Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for “sustained and unhindered” humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip on Thursday, alongside initiating early recovery efforts to provide livelihoods for Palestinians, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
Abdelatty made these remarks during a ministerial roundtable focused on humanitarian access and healthcare in Gaza.
The session took place in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, hosted by the United Kingdom in partnership with Jordan and Qatar to address humanitarian access and healthcare in Gaza.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary Ed Miliband hosted the event, which was co-chaired by Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and a representative from Qatar.
The gathering included several foreign ministers, senior officials, and representatives from international organizations and humanitarian agencies.
Abdelatty detailed Egypt’s humanitarian initiatives to support Palestinians and its ongoing diplomatic engagements aimed at alleviating humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
He underscored the importance of preserving Palestinian territorial unity and maintaining geographic and political contiguity between Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Abdelatty further emphasized the necessity of “supporting Palestinian institutions and enabling them to fulfill their responsibilities, while preserving the central role of UN agencies, particularly the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).”
He stated that such measures would “strengthen the resilience of Palestinians on their land and pave the way for early recovery and reconstruction as part of a credible political process leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
Attendees discussed the current humanitarian, health, and field situation in Gaza, exploring ways to translate international efforts into practical actions that improve living conditions for Palestinians.
They also deliberated on fulfilling the requirements of the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan and advancing to the second phase without delay, ensuring all parties honor their commitments and consolidate the ceasefire.
The meeting highlighted the critical need to guarantee safe, comprehensive, sustained, and unhindered access for humanitarian and medical aid, facilitate medical evacuations for patients and injured individuals, and allow the entry of supplies, medicines, and equipment essential for operating hospitals and vital facilities.
Participants also addressed the urgent preparations required to meet humanitarian needs in Gaza as winter approaches.
These discussions occurred as Gaza faces catastrophic humanitarian conditions amid the ongoing conflict since Oct. 8, 2023, which has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured 174,000, while destroying 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure.
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