FM, U.S. Senators Hold Talks in Cairo

Foreign Minister (FM) Sameh Shoukry received Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, members of the Senate Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Relations, as part of their regional tour of the region.

During the meeting, Shoukry stressed the strategic relations between Egypt and the United States, pointing out to Egypt's aspiration to strengthen all aspects of relations between the two countries. He also underlined the importance of intensifying consultation and coordination to deal with the current international and regional challenges.

Furthermore, FM reviewed Egypt's position on developments in the situation in Gaza, and the communications that Egypt is undertaking on both the political and humanitarian levels, stressing the importance of taking into account the element of time in dealing with the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the priority and inevitability of reaching an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, in a way that contributes effectively to dealing with the humanitarian disaster in the sector, and the entry of aid, and opens the political field to support efforts to reach a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue based on a two-state solution.

He also reiterated Egypt's position rejecting any attempts or measures that push Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to leave the Strip, drawing the attention of members of the U.S. Senate to the importance of the United States, with its international weight and influence on Israel, taking measures and positions that prevent the realization of this scenario, explaining that a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid in sufficient quantities to meet the needs of Palestinians in the sector is the practical measure that prevents the scenario of displacement.

For their part, members of the U.S. Senate expressed their appreciation for Egypt's efforts to deal with the political and humanitarian repercussions of the crisis, reviewing the efforts they are making within the U.S. Congress to contain the escalating crisis and its serious humanitarian repercussions.

Moreover, US Senators thanked the Egyptian government for its efforts in the field of implementing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and for the generous assistance provided by various Egyptian entities in the field of medical and relief assistance during the past period, and they expressed the United States' appreciation for the important role that Egypt played in facilitating the release of American hostages in Gaza.