Shoukry, Japanese FM Discuss Joint Efforts to Reach Ceasefire in Gaza

Foreign Minister (FM) Sameh Shoukry received a phone call on Thursday, April 4, from his Japanese counterpart Ms. Yoko Kamikawa.

The call focused on the developments in the Gaza Strip and the joint efforts to reach a ceasefire and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid.

At the beginning of the phone call, Japanes FM congratulated Shoukry on the inauguration of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for a new presidential term, expressing her country's aspiration to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries during this period.

Moreover, Kamikawa stressed Japan's keenness to continue the pace of consultation and coordination with Egypt on the most important regional and international issues, referring in this regard to her last meeting with Mr. Shoukry on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Brazil in February.

She also praised the partnership with Egypt given its pivotal role in achieving peace and security in the Middle East and Africa.

In this regard, Shoukry expressed his aspiration to accept the Japanese Minister's invitation to hold a round of strategic dialogue between the two countries, building on the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister (PM) to Cairo in April 2023, which witnessed the announcement of upgrading bilateral relations to the level of "strategic partnership".

Regarding the ongoing war in Gaza,  Japanese FM informed Shoukry of her country's decision to resume funding UNRWA on April 2, believing in the importance of the vital role played by the UN agency in alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people in light of the continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation, which contradicts all humanitarian principles and rules of international and humanitarian law.

For his part, Shoukry expressed Egypt's appreciation for this decision, which he considered a correct move by Japan, as the decision of some countries to stop funding the UN agency without reaching conclusive evidence about its involvement in the events of October 7, and at this critical time when UNRWA is the main lifeline for the Palestinian people in the Strip, was an incorrect decision that exacerbates the catastrophic humanitarian situation experienced by the residents of the Strip.

Japanese FM expressed her country's appreciation for Egypt's pivotal role in mediating between the parties to reach a truce leading to a permanent ceasefire, as well as its leading role in securing the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The call also discussed the continued Israeli violations and the deteriorating humanitarian situation, where the Foreign Minister conveyed Egypt's strong condemnation of Israel's continued targeting of humanitarian workers inside the Strip, referring in this regard to the recent targeting of relief workers of the "World Central Kitchen Foundation".

Furthermore, Shoukry also stressed the need for the Security Council to ensure the immediate implementation of Resolution 2728, and to build on it to achieve a permanent ceasefire after Ramadan, and to bring in humanitarian aid in full to meet the urgent needs of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Mpreover, Shoukry was keen during the call to reaffirm Egypt's categorical rejection of any scenarios that target the forced displacement of Gaza residents and the liquidation of the Palestinian cause, as well as any ground invasion of the Palestinian city of Rafah.

At the end of the call, the two sides agreed to continue coordination and consultation to enhance their joint efforts to stop the war in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.