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Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry discussed with a number of US senators on Tuesday the situation in the Gaza Strip, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and efforts to stop the ongoing war on Gaza.
Shoukry held extensive meetings at the US Senate upon his arrival in Washington. The talks tackled bilateral relations, regional and international challenges, and issues of mutual interest, said foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid.
The minister’s meetings with Democratic senators included Chris Coons, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
He also met with Republican senators Ted Cruz, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Marco Rubio, vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee and member of the Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees; and Lindsey Graham, the minority leader on the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Appropriations.
During the meetings, Shoukry urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, protecting Palestinian civilians, and ensuring regular access to humanitarian aid. He reiterated Egypt’s firm stance against any form of forced displacement or resettlement of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons outside their lands.
Egypt expects the US to oppose the ideas that aim to liquidate the Palestinian cause and exacerbate regional instability, Shoukry noted.
The foreign minister said Egypt and the US should enhance joint efforts to achieve peace and security in the region.
The Democratic senators underscored the US-Egypt strategic relations, expressing their understanding of the repercussions of the war on Gaza on regional stability.
The Republican senators lauded Egypt’s efforts to de-escalate and facilitate the exchange of captives and detainees. They expressed their gratitude to Egypt for facilitating the evacuation of American citizens from the Gaza Strip.
Shoukry will join the Arab-Muslim ministerial delegation, set to visit DC on Thursday, where they will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and several members of the US Congress.
The delegation’s visit comes in line with the final resolution passed at the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh, to spearhead international action to end the war on Gaza and tackle the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the besieged Strip.