Egyptian FM, UN chief discuss de-escalation, aid delivery to Gaza

CAIRO -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Thursday with visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ways to de-escalate the Israel-Hamas conflict and arrangements for the humanitarian aid delivery to the besieged Gaza Strip.

In a joint press conference following their meeting in Cairo, Shoukry said that he discussed with Guterres "the unprecedented escalation" of the ongoing conflict, echoing the UN's call for an immediate cease-fire.

The talks came a day after Israel agreed to allow some humanitarian aid provided by Egypt, other countries and organizations into Gaza via the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave, which is suffering a complete siege by Israel, and a lack of basic services and constant bombardment.

The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tons of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organization waiting to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to Egypt's Al-Qahera News.

A Cairo peace summit, convened by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and will be attended by Guterres, is scheduled for Saturday, working on reaching de-escalation and cease-fire and reaffirming the importance of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, said Shoukry.

The Egyptian top diplomat described Israel's targeting of humanitarian staff and premises as "a flagrant violation of the international humanitarian law."

For his part, Guterres said that "for nearly two weeks, the people of Gaza are going without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials."

The UN chief referred to Egypt's El Arish airport and the Rafah crossing as "our only hope," adding "they are the lifelines to the people of Gaza."

Guterres also called on Hamas for an immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and called on Israel to allow immediate and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid "to respond to the most basic needs of the people of Gaza."

The UN chief said that the Palestinian legitimate grievances over 56 years of occupation do not justify Hamas' attacks on Israel, and those attacks do not justify Israel's collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

The Gaza-controlling Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) carried out deadly attacks against Israel on Oct. 7, in which Hamas also took 200 to 250 Israeli hostages, prompting retaliatory Israeli strikes in Gaza and a full siege of the enclave, leading to a humanitarian crisis.