NEW YORK / CAIRO, July 28 (MENA) – Egyptian Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates Minister Badr Abdelatty on Monday stressed the need to establish a political horizon and launch a negotiation track to achieve a just and comprehensive peace through the implementation of the two-state solution and the end of Israeli occupation of Arab territories.
Speaking at the high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Abdelatty said Israel must be compelled to withdraw from territories occupied on June 4, 1967, halt all unilateral measures – particularly settlement expansion – and implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, notably Resolutions 242, 252, 267, 446 and 2334.
He reaffirmed that recognition of Palestine is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people tied to their right to self-determination. He called for urgent steps to end Israel’s blatant aggression on Gaza, secure a ceasefire agreement, facilitate a hostage and prisoner swap deal, and allow the United Nations and UNRWA to fully carry out their mandates in Gaza. Abdelatty also called for unimpeded humanitarian aid access and backing for the Palestinian Authority to return to the Gaza Strip to ensure Palestinian territorial unity.
He underscored the importance of supporting the Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, including the provision of necessary resources to restore livability in the enclave.
The minister described the situation in Gaza as a humanitarian catastrophe, citing daily crimes committed by Israel. He emphasized the need for coordinated international efforts to address the crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories and to tackle the root causes of the conflict by reviving the two-state solution, which he said remains the only viable path to ending the conflict and achieving regional security.
The top Egyptian diplomat stressed the need to empower the Palestinian Authority to function effectively in both Gaza and the West Bank as a step toward resuming political negotiations.
Representing Egypt in its capacity as co-chair of the fifth working group on humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza – alongside the United Kingdom – Abdelatty led the Egyptian delegation at the opening session of the conference.
He said Egypt is committed to presenting its vision on the humanitarian situation in the occupied territories, seeing it as a cornerstone for any practical move toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. He stressed the importance of supporting Palestinian resilience in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law, particularly in ensuring protection and access to essential services.
He warned against systematic and continuous violations in the West Bank, amid official Israeli statements advocating the displacement of Gaza residents and the imposition of sovereignty over the West Bank – steps he said Egypt unequivocally rejects as they undermine prospects for a Palestinian state and the two-state solution.
Abdelatty said Egypt has intensified efforts to end Gaza war and alleviate the humanitarian disaster affecting civilians, emphasizing Egypt’s leading role in delivering aid to the enclave and its ongoing support for UNRWA operations in Gaza and other areas.
He also announced Egypt’s intention to work with international partners to host a conference on Gaza’s early recovery and reconstruction once a ceasefire is in place, to implement the Arab-Islamic plan and alleviate the suffering of enclave’s population.
In addition, Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s continued provision of security training programs for Palestinian Authority forces to help them uphold the rule of law in both Gaza and the West Bank – a move he said would contribute to creating a conducive environment for the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state.
