Egypt Intensifies Diplomatic Efforts for Humanitarian Aid in Gaza; President Al-Sisi Criticizes Israel’s Disproportional Response

Egypt declared on Sunday that it has escalated its diplomatic initiatives to facilitate the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid to the beleaguered Gaza Strip. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, strongly condemned Israel’s bombardment of Gaza as disproportionate. He emphasized that Israel’s retaliatory strikes, in response to last week’s attacks by Hamas militants, had transformed into collective punishment for the 2.3 million people residing in Gaza.

The situation has been further complicated by the accumulation of aid from various countries in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Attempts to secure a safe passage for this aid, along with the evacuation of foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, have faced obstacles. Israeli bombardments on the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, the primary exit point not controlled by Israel, have severely disrupted operations, hindering aid delivery efforts.

There is growing concern within Egypt over the possibility of widespread displacement of Gaza residents due to Israel’s siege and relentless bombardment. Egypt, along with other Arab states, has reaffirmed its stance, asserting that Palestinians should remain on their lands. The Egyptian government is actively engaged in efforts to ensure the unhindered delivery of aid, striving to alleviate the humanitarian crisis gripping the Gaza Strip.