Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has issued a stern warning against Israel’s purported plans for a military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, cautioning that such actions would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.
Speaking at a press conference in Cairo on Saturday alongside Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel, Shoukry highlighted Israel’s recent remarks regarding potential military activities in the southern Gaza Strip. He expressed grave concerns over the implications of such actions, foreseeing heightened civilian casualties and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
Shoukry emphasized the densely populated nature of Rafah, housing approximately 1.4 million Palestinian citizens, who would be left vulnerable to the consequences of military operations without adequate means of protection.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister urged for the utmost respect for the humanitarian situation and urged Israel to refrain from escalating military actions, stressing that any further expansion of hostilities would yield severe consequences for the region.
“There is international consensus that the region cannot bear the same intensity of military operations that we witnessed in the past period,” Shoukry asserted, underscoring the urgent need to address the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
Moreover, Shoukry reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast rejection of forced displacement policies targeting Palestinians, cautioning against Israel’s measures that could lead to such outcomes. He characterized these measures as part of a systematic policy that must not persist to achieve such undesirable outcomes.
Shoukry also shed light on ongoing negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement, emphasizing Egypt’s commitment to facilitating discussions between relevant parties. Despite challenges posed by differing perspectives, particularly from Israeli counterparts, Egypt remains dedicated to achieving a comprehensive cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
