Egypt warned today (Wednesday) against the consequences of expanding the implementation of "policies of collective punishment, starvation and siege" in the Gaza Strip, which is subject to continuous Israeli attacks for the fifth day in a row in response to a surprise attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel.

This came during a meeting between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry with the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wensland, and the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement on the official page of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Facebook that Shoukry received Wensland and Lazzarini today, as part of following up on “developments and repercussions of the military escalation between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, and the military operations against the Gaza Strip and their dangerous humanitarian repercussions.”

Abu Zeid added that Shukri's discussions with UN officials focused on exchanging visions and assessments regarding ways to alleviate "the burden of human suffering to which the Palestinian people are exposed under the fire of violent and continuous Israeli bombing."

He pointed to the consensus of visions during the meeting, on "the need to spare civilians from both the Palestinian and Israeli sides from being exposed to the dangers of the ongoing military escalation, whether inside the Gaza Strip or in its surroundings."

Shukry affirmed Egypt's "full support" for the relevant UN bodies to carry out their important role in ensuring the regularity of vital services and the arrival of relief materials to the people of the Gaza Strip, warning of "the consequences of expanding the implementation of policies of collective punishment, starvation, and siege in violation of the provisions of international humanitarian law, because of the dire consequences that would have on "Deteriorating humanitarian conditions for civilians."

He also expressed Egypt's "deep concern" about the bombing that hit an UNRWA school housing displaced families in the Gaza Strip, as the meeting participants agreed on the necessity of respecting the special status of UNRWA's headquarters and facilities in the Strip, as they are "pivotal" for providing basic services to the Palestinians and providing a safe haven. For civilians in such difficult circumstances.

Shoukry also affirmed “Egypt’s firm position towards the pillars of resolving and settling the Palestinian issue,” pointing out that Egypt had previously emphasized “the dangers of the absence of a solution horizon and the increasing intensity of tension among the Palestinian people.”

He stressed that a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian issue is “the only guarantee” for achieving peace and peaceful coexistence between the Palestinian and Israeli sides in accordance with the two-state solution.