CAIRO: The Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, and France have issued a joint statement calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. They also called for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 2721, 2720, and 2728, including facilitating the unhindered access of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Following discussions held today in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to address the Palestinian issue and the situation in Gaza, the ministers expressed grave concerns over the devastating humanitarian repercussions, including famine and the collapse of the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip.
They reiterated their rejection of any attempts at forced displacement of the Palestinian people, deeming such actions illegal under international law.
The ministers urged the implementation of the provisional measures adopted by the International Court of Justice on January 26 and March 28, as well as the rapid, safe, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza and throughou
t the region.
They further called on Israel to remove all obstacles and facilitate the use of all land crossings to increase the flow of humanitarian assistance in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions.
Commending the efforts of the United Nations and its agencies, including UNRWA, the ministers emphasized the vital role they play in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. They reaffirmed the importance of respecting and protecting all humanitarian workers and ensuring their freedom of movement and access to Gaza and its northern region.
The ministers vehemently opposed any Israeli military attack on Rafah, which shelters 1.5 million Palestinian refugees, warning that such an assault would result in significant loss of life and further exacerbate the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
They called for the preservation of the status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem, including maintaining the role of the Jordanian Waqf as custodian of the Al-Aqsa Mosqu
e, expressing deep concern over increasing pressures against Christian and Muslim communities in Jerusalem.
The ministers emphasized the necessity of implementing a two-state solution based on relevant United Nations resolutions, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.
They highlighted the importance of the UN Security Council addressing the situation on the ground, in addition to the political dimension of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA