German foreign minister calls on Egypt to organize Gaza conference promptly

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized on Tuesday the urgent need to hold a conference in Egypt focused on the reconstruction of Gaza, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. "We are fully committed to this initiative and urge Egypt to convene the conference participants without delay," Wadephul stated during a meeting in Berlin with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty.

Wadephul confirmed Germany's readiness to actively engage in and support the rebuilding efforts. Abdelatty noted that Egypt is coordinating with the United States to determine a suitable date for the event. He highlighted the USs significant role, as reconstruction is a key component of former President Donald Trump's peace strategy.

"It is crucial to prioritize effectively, as time is of the essence," Wadephul added. Despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza taking effect roughly seven weeks ago, violent incidents continue to occur daily across the region.

Wadephul stressed that disarming Hamas remains a central objective and called on Israel to respect the ceasefire while facilitating greater humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

In a separate development, Wadephul and Abdelatty signed a joint declaration to establish a strategic dialogue at the foreign minister level, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. The dialogue will occur every two years, alternating between Egypt and Germany, and will cover shared interests including regional stability, migration management, and combating terrorism, extremism, and radicalization.

Author: Sophia Brooks