Egypt demands Gaza cease-fire 'without conditions,' urgent action from UN Security Council

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry demanded a sustainable and unconditional cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, during a UN Security Council session Tuesday.

Shoukry emphasized that the Council is the highest political body entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security, outlining specific actions for it to take.

"One, sustainable and an immediate cease-fire in Gaza without any conditions. Second, put an end to other practices that aim to forcibly displace the Palestinian people, in their land or outside their land, which is a grave violation of international law, humanitarian international law and amounts to war crimes," Shoukry told member states.

As the third point, he asserted that international protection should be immediately provided to unarmed Palestinians.

Additionally, he said the Council should ensure the safe, prompt and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, demanding Israel to fulfill its responsibilities as the occupying power.

For the fifth point, Shoukry emphasized the need to "reach a binding formula to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict according to the agreed-upon parameters set out in the Security Council resolutions."

"Six, this council has various responsibilities and work on launching an independent investigation of the flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law," he said.

Shoukry said the expectations outlined are the least that Egypt would expect from the Council.

He urged action before the current crisis worsens, before it spills into other countries in the region and before the need arises to return to the Council to discuss a deeper and bigger crisis.

Israel has continued a relentless bombardment campaign on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Israeli border towns on Oct. 7 that killed 1,400 Israelis.

Nearly 5,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the bombardment began, including more than 2,000 children, according to the Gaza-based Health Ministry.