Guterres discusses with Egypt and Qatar developments in Gaza and the West Bank

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, discussed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Badr Abdel-Aaty, and the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, during separate phone calls.

This comes amid the continuation of Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement that began on October 10 in Gaza, and the continuation of military aggression against the occupied West Bank.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement that Abdel-Aaty received a phone call from Guterres, during which developments in the occupied Palestinian territories and international efforts to support the path of de-escalation and consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza were discussed, in addition to achieving de-escalation in the West Bank.

The ceasefire agreement was supposed to end the war of extermination that Israel began in Gaza on October 8, 2023, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of tens of thousands of Palestinians, most of them children and women.

As a result of the continuous violations of the agreement by the Israeli side, hundreds of Palestinians have been martyred and thousands injured, according to the Ministry of Health in the sector.

Abdel-Aaty stressed the utmost importance of adhering to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2803, and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip without any restrictions.

It is noteworthy that the government media office in Gaza stated that Israel is deliberately obstructing the entry of humanitarian aid, and is working to economically suffocate the sector, which makes it on the verge of famine.

Last November, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2803, which relates to ending hostilities and managing the Gaza Strip after the end of the war.

Abdel-Aaty and Guterres also discussed the ongoing consultations to deploy an international stabilization force in Gaza, as part of the next second phase of the agreement.

He stressed the importance of moving forward with steps to form the Palestinian technocratic committee, with the aim of managing Gaza, in preparation for the return of the Palestinian Authority to the sector.

He also expressed his categorical rejection of any calls aimed at displacing Palestinians or changing the geographical and demographic situation of the sector.

The Egyptian minister pointed to the seriousness of the escalating situation in the West Bank, in light of the alarming escalation of violence committed by settlers and the continuation of land confiscation policies.

He warned that this approach threatens to expand the circle of tension, and imposes an urgent responsibility on the international community to intervene immediately to stop these violations and prevent the deterioration of the situation on the ground.

The Palestinians affirm that Israel is intensifying its crimes in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, through the army and settlers, through attacks, displacement, land confiscation and settlement expansion, with the aim of annexing the West Bank to it.

In parallel with the extermination of Gaza, thousands of Palestinians have been martyred and injured in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in addition to the arrest of thousands.

Abdel-Aaty also spoke about the important role played by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in supporting Palestinian refugees, stressing that it is an irreplaceable role that cannot be dispensed with.

In a related context, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs received a phone call from Guterres, during which they reviewed cooperation relations between the two sides and their strengthening, in addition to discussing developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, and a number of regional and international issues of common interest.