Abdelatty highlighted Wednesday in a phone call with Germany ‘s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock Egypt’s efforts in endorsing negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs read.
Abdelatty underlined the need for Germany to continue supporting the UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Baerbock expressed her appreciation towards Egypt’s humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, affirming Germany’s stance in supporting these efforts.
Berlin announced resuming its funding to UNRWA in Gaza in April, a few months after several UN members suspended some $450 million of funds amid the ongoing Gaza war.
The decisions to suspend the funding were based on Israeli allegations that some of the agency’s staff participated in the Hamas-led 7 October attack.
Egypt has described these accusations as “baseless” as they lack evidence.
All parties that suspended the UNRWA funding have resumed their contributions to the agency, except for the United States, the biggest donor, and the United Kingdom.
Ongoing mediation
Egypt, the United States, and Qatar are mediating between Israel and Hamas in a bid to reach a ceasefire and a prisoner-swap deal, which would pave the way for ending the prolonged war.
The devastating war, extending for more than nine months, has killed and injured over 128,000 people, destroyed infrastructure, displaced most residents, and pushed the strip to the brink of famine.
Recently, the Israeli government has introduced new demands, insisting that any deal must allow Tel Aviv to resume fighting in Gaza until Hamas is destroyed. This makes a deal increasingly unlikely to be reached soon.
Sources quoted by Israeli media asserted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to sabotage the Gaza ceasefire proposal by issuing new demands.
Global outcry
Despite international calls for a war halt, Israel has stepped up the strikes in Gaza, including a tragic attack on the Al-Mawasi safe zone in the southern area of the enclave this week.
The strike killed at least 90 Palestinians, half of which are women and children, and injured 300 others, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
The Israeli military said the bombardment targeted two people — the head of Hamas’s military wing, Mohammed Deif, and his close associate Rafa Salama, who the army claimed was killed.
Despite the attack, Hamas has denied reports that it withdrew from the ceasefire talks.
The UN Security Council resolution adopted in June, backing an “immediate, full, and complete ceasefire,” has failed to stop the war or achieve any truce.
In March, the Security Council adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire. Israel, however, did not stop operations across the strip.
Egypt has expressed strong condemnation of the global silence regarding Israel’s attacks, warning that these ongoing violations of international law complicate efforts toward reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.
Source: Ahram Online
