Cairo: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aati held talks on Saturday with US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, which addressed the developments in the Gaza Strip, along with the efforts energized to hammer out a ceasefire and support the Palestinian people.
According to Qatar News Agency, during a phone call with Witkoff, Abdel Aati stressed that Israel should respond to the proposed deal to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, warning against the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation that has edged toward famine in the enclave. He highlighted concerns over military operations and the use of starvation as a weapon, which could lead to severe consequences.
He apprised Witkoff of Egypt's preparations to host an international conference for early recovery and reconstruction as soon as a ceasefire is announced. This initiative is based on the Arab-Islamic plan agreed upon at the Arab Summit in Cairo last March. Additionally, they discussed updates regarding the Iranian nuclear file.
In his meeting with Lazzarini, Abdel Aati affirmed that the United Nations General Assembly is solely entitled to determine UNRWA's future, noting concerns over Israeli legislation aimed at ending its operation. He emphasized that targeting UNRWA poses a threat to international law and erodes confidence in international institutions.
Furthermore, Abdel Aati rejected any suggestions to reduce UNRWA's services or transfer them to other entities. He called on the international community to uphold its commitment to support UNRWA politically and financially, ensuring it can fulfill its role until a just and lasting solution is achieved for Palestinian refugees.