Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a delegation from the US House of Representatives headed by House Member Adam Smith, Leader of the Democratic Minority in the Military Services Committee, who is visiting Egypt as part of a regional tour in the region.
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Minister Shukri expressed his welcome to the delegation, noting the sensitivity and specificity of the current circumstances and the turbulent regional and international situations, which require the two countries to strengthen their strategic partnership with the aim of establishing peace and security.
He expressed Egypt’s permanent welcome to strengthening relations with members of the US Congress with their various party affiliations, stressing the vital role they play in serving common Egyptian-American interests.
Ambassador Abu Zeid explained that Minister Shukri stressed the importance of continuing efforts aimed at advancing various aspects of politi
cal, economic, commercial and military relations.
The discussions also dealt with the situation in the Gaza Strip, where Minister Shukri stressed Egypt’s rejection of the Israeli military operation in Rafah, and any ideas or measures that push towards the displacement of Palestinian citizens outside the Gaza Strip.
In this context, the Foreign Minister stressed that Egypt sees no alternative but an immediate ceasefire and taking clear steps towards launching a serious and real peace process that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within a specific and short period of time.
Shukri also stressed the importance of the role played by UNRWA in receiving and distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza, noting the risks surrounding the prolonged crisis of expanding the scope of the conflict and instability in the region.
On the other hand, the official spokesman for the State Department explained that the meeting witnessed an in-depth dialogue on the various aspects of the crisis in the Gaz
a Strip, security, political and humanitarian, during which the Foreign Minister was keen to answer the questions of members of the US House of Representatives regarding Egypt’s assessment of ways to get out of the current crisis and end the war.
In this context, Mr. Sameh Shoukry reviewed the efforts made by Egypt to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and remove the obstacles placed by Israel, in addition to reviewing the Egyptian mediation efforts with the aim of reaching a deal that allows the implementation of a humanitarian truce that spares the blood of the Palestinians and allows efforts to focus on the opportunities for reaching a complete cessation.
Source: State Information Service Egypt