Day: January 12, 2024

Chairman of the State Information Service Diaa Rashwan, completely denied the allegations and lies of the Israeli defense team before the International Court of Justice, that Egypt is responsible for preventing the entry of humanitarian and relief aid into the Gaza Strip from the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing.

He explained that the inconsistency and lies of the Israeli allegations are refuted in the following points:

– All Israeli officials, especially the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and the Minister of Energy, have confirmed dozens of times in public statements since the start of the aggression on Gaza that they will not allow aid to enter the Gaza Strip, particularly fuel because this is a part of the war that their state is waging against the Strip.

– After all these statements, Israel did not consider this prevention and siege to be war crimes and genocide under international law. When the occupying state found itself before the International Court of Justice accused with documented
evidence of these crimes, it resorted to throwing accusations against Egypt in an attempt to escape its likely condemnation by the court.

– It is clear that Egypt’s sovereignty extends only to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, while the other side of it in Gaza is subject to the actual occupation authority. This was demonstrated in the mechanism for the entry of aid from the Egyptian side to the Karm Abu Salem crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip to Israeli territory, where it is inspected by the Israeli army, before allowing it to enter the territory of the Gaza Strip.

– Egypt has announced dozens of times in official statements, starting with the President of the Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and all concerned parties, that the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side is open without interruption, calling on the Israeli side not to prevent the flow of humanitarian aid to the Strip and to stop deliberately obstructing or delaying the entry of aid under the pretext of inspecting it.

– M
any senior officials in the world, led by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, visited the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side, where none of them were able to cross it into the Gaza Strip, because the Israeli army prevented them from doing so, or because they feared for their lives due to the ongoing Israeli bombing of the Strip.

– The negotiations that took place over the humanitarian truce, which lasted for a week in the Gaza Strip, in which Egypt, Qatar, and the United States were parties, witnessed extreme intransigence from the Israeli side in determining the amount of aid that the occupation forces would allow to enter the Strip, as they control the Strip militarily, which ultimately resulted in entering of the quantities announced at the time.

– In light of the continued Israeli intention to obstruct the entry of aid through the Karm Abu Salem crossing, Egypt resorted to allowing Egyptian trucks with Egyptian drivers to enter, after inspection, directly into the territory of the Gaza Strip
to distribute aid to its residents instead of transferring it to Palestinian trucks to do so.

– The issue confirms that the Israeli occupation army’s control over the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and its deliberate obstruction of it is that US President Joe Biden called for opening the Karm Abu Salem crossing to facilitate its entry, which was announced by his National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on December 13, as good news.

– The issue that confirms the Israeli occupation army’s control over the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and its deliberate obstruction of it is that US President Joe Biden called for the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing to facilitate its entry, which was announced by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on December 13, as good news.

– If the Israeli authorities want food, medical supplies, and fuel to enter the Gaza Strip, Israel has six (6) crossings from its territory with the Gaza Strip, which they must open immediately for trade and not for the entry of aid, especi
ally since this trade with the Gaza Strip in 2022 amounted to more than USD 4.7 billion for the benefit of the Israeli commercial and industrial sector.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Chairman of State Information Service (SIS), Diaa Rashwan, categorically denied the allegations and lies of the Israeli defense team before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), that Egypt is responsible for preventing the entry of humanitarian and relief aid into the Gaza Strip from the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing.

He explained that the inconsistency and lies of the Israeli allegations are evident in the following points:

= All Israeli officials, led by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and the Minister of Energy, have confirmed dozens of times in public statements since the start of the aggression on Gaza, that they will not allow aid to enter Gaza Strip, especially fuel, because this is part of the war that their state is waging against the Strip.

= After all these statements, which did not consider this prevention and siege to be war crimes and genocide under international law, and when the occupying state found itself before the International Court of Justice accused with docum
ented evidence of these crimes, it resorted to throwing accusations against Egypt in an attempt to escape its likely condemnation by the court.

= It is known that Egypt’s sovereignty extends only to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, while the other side of it in Gaza is subject to the actual occupation authority, which was actually demonstrated in the mechanism for the entry of aid from the Egyptian side to ‘Karm Abou Salem’ crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip to Israeli territory, where it is inspected by the Israeli army, before being allowed to enter the Gaza Strip.

= Egypt has announced dozens of times in official statements, starting with the President of the Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and all concerned parties, that the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side is open without interruption, calling on the Israeli side not to prevent the flow of humanitarian aid to the Strip and to stop deliberately obstructing or delaying the entry of aid under the pretext of inspecting it.

= M
any of the world’s senior officials, led by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, visited the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side, and no one of them was able to cross it into the Gaza Strip, due to the Israeli army preventing them from doing so, or because they feared for their lives due to the ongoing Israeli bombing of the Strip.

= The negotiations that took place regarding the humanitarian truces, which lasted for a week in the Gaza Strip, in which Egypt, Qatar, and the United States were parties, witnessed extreme intransigence on the part of the Israeli side in determining the amount of aid that the occupation forces would allow to enter the Strip, given that they control it militarily, which resulted in the end of the entry of quantities announced at that time.

= In light of the continued Israeli intention to obstruct the entry of aid at the ‘Karm Abou Salem’ crossing, Egypt has resorted to assigning Egyptian trucks with Egyptian drivers to enter, after inspection, directly into the territor
y of the Gaza Strip to distribute aid to its residents, instead of transferring it to Palestinian trucks to do this.

= What confirms the Israeli occupation army’s control over the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and its deliberate obstruction of it is what US President Joe Biden asked it to open ‘Karm Abou Salem’ crossing to facilitate its entry, which was announced by his National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on 13th December, as good news.

= If the Israeli authorities really want food, medical supplies, and fuel to enter the Gaza Strip, they have six (6) crossings from their territory with the Gaza Strip, which they must open immediately for trade and not for the entry of aid, especially since this trade with the Gaza Strip had reached more than $4.7 billion in 2022 for the benefit of the Israeli commercial and industrial sector.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Egypt has expressed its concern over the escalation of military operations in the Red Sea region following the airstrikes carried out by US and British forces in Yemen.

Egypt urged united international and regional efforts to reduce tension and avoid instability in the region, especially in terms of the navigation in the Red Sea, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

The foreign ministry said the ‘dangerous and accelerating developments” in the southern Red Sea and Yemen are a ‘clear’ indication of Egypt’s previous warnings of potential risks of an expanding conflict in the region due to the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.

Since the start of the Israeli war against Gaza on 7 October, Egypt has called on more than one occasion to end the fighting, warning of the dangers of expanding the conflict into the wider region.

Cairo stressed that a ‘comprehensive’ ceasefire and an end to the ongoing war against Palestinian civilians is “inevitable” to s
pare the region further instability, conflicts and threats, noted the statement.

Earlier on Thursday, the US and British militaries bombed dozens of sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, in retaliation for Houthis attacks against international vessels – including those from the US, in the Red Sea.

The Houthis attacks were carried out in response to the American endorsement of the Israeli operation against Gaza, which killed over 23,400 in 98 days.

The Houthis group said all American and British interests have become “legitimate targets” following the attack.

The aggression ‘will not go unanswered and without punishment,’ it added in a statement.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

National Council of Human Rights (NCHR) President Moushira Khattab praised the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for committing genocide in Gaza, describing it as a ‘crucial’ step towards restoring Palestinian rights.

In the trial’s initial session on Thursday 11/12/2024, South Africa asked judges to impose binding preliminary orders on Israel, including an immediate halt to the military campaign in Gaza which reached its 97th day.

South African lawyers told the ICJ that the latest Gaza war is part of a decades-long oppression of the Palestinians by Israel.

‘The lawsuit is a well-constructed, thought-out move from South Africa,’ Khattab told the Egyptian news agency MENA on Friday 12/1/2024.

Khattab said she was not surprised by the step as she witnessed during her tenure as a former Egyptian ambassador to South Africa a ‘steadfast’ commitment from South Africa to human rights, particularly since it suffered from apartheid.

Source: State Inform
ation Service Egypt

US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller expressed thanks to Egypt for its role in facilitating the safe cross-border exit of U.S. and other foreign nationals via Rafah.

Posting on his “X” account, Miller said: “US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was in Cairo to discuss the U.S. commitment to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza, our opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians, and our support for lasting regional peace.”

Earlier, Blinken affirmed to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi the United States’ commitment to regional peace and security, including the establishment of a Palestinian state. Blinken tweeted on the “X” platform, stating, “I met with President Sisi in Cairo to discuss joint efforts to expedite life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza. I reiterated the United States’ commitment to regional peace and security, including the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

El Sisi, for his part, emphasized Egypt’s keenness to continue coordination with the United States in the interest of r
egional security and stability. This statement was made during the reception of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his accompanying delegation earlier in the day.

Presidential Spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy, mentioned that the US Secretary of State conveyed greetings and appreciation from President Biden to President Sisi.

Blinken also highlighted Egypt’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate the situation in the region and promote peace and stability, added the spokesman, noting that Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to continued coordination between the two sides in the interest of regional security and stability.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene an open briefing this evening to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including the issue of Palestine.

Algeria, the sole Arab member of the UNSC, has requested the meeting to discuss the threat of forced displacement facing the Palestinian people in Gaza as a result of the brutal Israeli genocide campaign in the enclave.

Expected to provide briefings to council members are Martin Griffiths, the Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, and Ilze Brands Kehris, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights.

The council previously held closed consultations on Wednesday, responding to a request from Malta, to discuss the implementation of Resolution 2712 issued last November. The resolution calls for a temporary halt and urgent, extended humanitarian corridors throughout Gaza to facilitate the provision of essential goods and services.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

Foreign Minster Sameh Shoukry delivered, Thursday 11/1/2024 a letter from President Abdel Fattah al Sisi to his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afwerki on strengthening bilateral ties and regional developments of mutual interest between the two countries.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Shoukry conveyed President El Sisi’s greetings to his Eritrean counterpart and expressed pride in the fraternal relations between the two countries.

Shoukry affirmed Egypt’s keenness to strengthen its brotherly relations with Eritrea to serve the interests of both nations.

President Afwerki appreciated President El-Sisi’s initiative to send the Foreign Minister to Asmara with a letter, expressing his country’s eagerness to continue cooperation with Egypt to enhance bilateral partnership. He also emphasized the importance of intensifying mechanisms for consultation and coordination to address common challenges.

The two sides discussed several joint cooperation projects and
programs in infrastructure, health, training, and knowledge transfer, the spokesperson noted.

They also addressed issues related to the African continent and developments in the Horn of Africa region, he explained.

Shoukry emphasized Egypt’s commitment to supporting factors of stability, security, and peace in the region, requiring enhanced regional cooperation and coordination, added the spokesperson.

The meeting also touched upon challenges related to the security of the Red Sea as Shoukry highlighted the importance of cooperation among the Red Sea coastal states. He emphasized their pivotal role in the stability of the region and the safety of maritime navigation in this strategic international corridor.

Shoukry reiterated Egypt’s warnings about the risks of the conflict widening as a result of the Israeli war on Gaza. He highlighted Egypt’s multiple efforts and communications at all levels to stop the unjust attacks against the Palestinian people and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaz
a Strip.

The Foreign Minister expressed Egypt’s full rejection of any attempts to displace or encourage the residents of Gaza Strip to leave their land, considering any measures aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause as desperate attempts bound to fail.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also mentioned that the two sides agreed to intensify efforts to implement joint cooperation programs and exchange visits at political and technical levels in the coming period to follow up on the results of the Foreign Minister’s visit.

Source: State Information Service Egypt