Ceasefire
CAIRO: The Foreign Ministers of France, Egypt, and Jordan have issued a resounding call for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza, accompanied by the release of all prisoners.
Their unified stance was expressed during a joint press conference held in Cairo on Saturday. Stephane Sejourne, representing France, announced his government’s intention to present a draft resolution at the UN Security Council aimed at outlining a “political” resolution to the crisis.
This proposed resolution would encompass the essential elements of a two-state solution, a framework long advocated by the international community but met with resistance from the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Their plea comes in the wake of a recent UNSC resolution passed on Monday, demanding an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, where the toll of casualties, particularly among women and children, has climbed to alarming heights, with the death toll reaching 32,705 according to the health ministry.
Despite these international efforts, the Jordanian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, lamented during the Cairo conference that “international law no longer has any impact on the ground when it comes to Israel.”
He criticized the global community’s inability to prevent the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, attributing the dire situation to what he described as the Israeli government’s deliberate use of starvation as a weapon.
Echoing similar sentiments, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry emphasized that Gaza has reached a breaking point, facing intolerable levels of destruction and humanitarian suffering.
Shoukry urged Israel to open its land crossings with Gaza to allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid.
Currently, most aid is channeled through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, where Israel has been accused by world leaders and the United Nations of obstructing deliveries.
The urgent call for a ceasefire and humanitarian assistance underscores the pressing need for international intervention to alleviate the escalating crisis in Gaza.
