Egypt on Saturday warned of the humanitarian and security implications of Israel’s ground operation in the Gaza Strip and held Tel Aviv responsible for violating a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire.
The Foreign Ministry said the ground offensive would increase the number of casualties and reiterated its call on the Israeli side to facilitate procedures for safe, full and sustained access of humanitarian and relief aid to the Gaza Strip, according to the statement.
It cautioned that failure to immediately meet the demands for a humanitarian truce and facilitate aid access to the Gaza Strip would lead to an inevitable humanitarian disaster and destabilise regional security and stability in the region.
Gaza has been under continuous Israeli airstrikes since Hamas’ surprise offensive on 7 October.
The Palestinian group launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket fire and infiltration into Israel by land, sea and air. The group said it was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the growing Israeli settler violence against Palestinians.
Israel replied with a sustained campaign of air raids, which intensified on Friday night along with ground actions amid a complete telecoms and internet blackout.
Israeli strikes have killed at least 7,703 Palestinians, including 3,595 children, while the Israeli death toll stands at more than 1,400.
Gaza’s 2.3 million residents also lack food, water and medicine due to Israel’s blockade of the enclave. Since the opening of the Rafah crossing last weekend, only a few truckloads of humanitarian aid have travelled into Gaza.
Late Friday, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution calling for a humanitarian truce, but Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen called it “despicable” and rejected it.
