The mediating countries in Gaza renewed their call to the international community and the Peace Council under the leadership of US President Donald Trump to take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in accordance with Security Council Resolution No. 2803 and to exert effective pressure to prevent any further escalation, in light of the devastating consequences of the ongoing Israeli aggression in the region.
Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, as mediating states, strongly condemned the recent Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, and express their deep concern about the ongoing violations.
The mediating countries affirmed in a joint statement, on Thursday, that the escalation of Israeli attacks undermines regional and international efforts at a critical stage, as intense efforts are being made to implement the comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza, including the meeting between the Peace Council and Israeli officials, and taking constructive steps in the negotiation process.
It stressed the need for Israel to fully adhere to all its obligations under the ceasefire agreement, and to refrain from any actions that would weaken the ceasefire or lead to escalation of tensions.
In this context, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty stressed during a phone call from his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, on Thursday, the importance of continuing efforts to implement the US President’s peace plan in the Gaza Strip, and pushing Israel to adhere to the entitlements of the first phase and the “road map”, thus opening the way for the implementation of the entitlements of the second phase, stabilizing the calm and completing the path towards achieving peace and stability.
The two ministers pointed out that the Palestinian factions showed responsiveness regarding the confinement of weapons, and stressed that “the ball is now in the Israeli court, and the Israeli side must respond to the efforts aimed at implementing the American President’s plan in a way that contributes to preparing the atmosphere for the implementation of the agreed-upon arrangements, including the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the introduction of humanitarian aid, the removal of obstacles preventing the entry of the agreed upon number of trucks at about 600 trucks per day, the start of early recovery and reconstruction projects, and the entry of the National Committee and members of the Palestinian police and force.” International stability.
Abdel Ati and Fidan warned against Israel’s intention to implement the “E1” settlement project in the occupied West Bank, because of the serious threat it represents to the unity of the Palestinian territories, especially by separating East Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings and undermining geographical communication between parts of the West Bank, thus undermining the chances of establishing an independent and viable Palestinian state, in flagrant violation of international law and international legitimacy resolutions.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned of the conditions in which hundreds of minors were living, who illegally entered the Spanish-occupied enclave of Ceuta in northern Morocco late last month, and described the situation as characterized by "insecurity and lack of health conditions," calling for speedy identification of unaccompanied minors and the provision of necessary care for them.
Laria Contreras, the organization's Director of Impact, Programs and Partnerships, said in statements reported by Reuters that hundreds of minors are currently on the streets in unsanitary conditions, and are in urgent need of food and health care.
In this context, several human rights organizations working in Ceuta, or specializing in sexual violence, including UNICEF and Amnesty International, warned of the extreme vulnerability suffered by migrant women in Ceuta, especially girls, and called for urgent measures to be taken, including the provision of safe housing and specialized support.
Madrid announced on Thursday the creation of two centers to accommodate 1,800 migrants in Ceuta with the aim of alleviating the severity of the humanitarian crisis that has afflicted the city since the arrival of large numbers from Morocco last month.
The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Nabil Fahmy, affirmed that “Israel continues to act as a rogue state, flouting international law, its rules and customs, and repeatedly violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, in the absence of international deterrence and accountability.”
