CAIRO, September 6, 2025 (WAFA) – Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated on Saturday that the famine in Gaza is fully man-made and the result of Israeli actions, reiterating Egypt’s firm rejection of any attempts to dismantle the Palestinian cause.
Speaking at a joint press conference with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, Abdelatty condemned efforts targeting the UN agency, saying all alternative mechanisms have failed disastrously. He affirmed Egypt’s unwavering support for UNRWA as it faces increasing challenges.
Abdelatty identified Israel’s intransigence as the main obstacle to progress in ceasefire talks and reaffirmed the urgent need for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza. He criticized Israel’s expansionist policies in the occupied Palestinian territories and condemned its use of starvation as a weapon of war.
He rejected Israel’s so-called “voluntary displacement” proposal for Gaza’s residents, calling it “nonsense,” and declared the Rafah crossing will not be used as a channel for forced displacement. He stressed that forced population transfer is a red line for Egypt.
Abdelatty also condemned Israeli legislative efforts aimed at dismantling UNRWA’s operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, warning that such moves set a dangerous precedent and undermine international law and trust in global institutions.
He pointed to an integrated Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza’s future, including security arrangements, governance, reconstruction, and the deployment of Palestinian police forces in the Strip.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini described Gaza as a “war zone,” revealing that 90% of the agency’s facilities have been destroyed. He warned that UNRWA is on the verge of collapse due to severe funding shortages and called for an immediate ceasefire to address the worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
Lazzarini urged the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian organizations in Gaza and the unimpeded delivery of aid. He acknowledged the dire financial state of UNRWA, which has forced it to suspend several programs, and praised the role of journalists in exposing the situation in Gaza. He also noted that both aid workers and journalists are paying a heavy price.
The UN official commended Egypt’s critical role in facilitating aid and described the international community’s silence in the face of the crisis as shocking.
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