Cyprus: The Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, has met with Cypriot officials in the Republic of Cyprus after Israel’s violations put the relief effort in jeopardy, to discuss ways to address the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and how to guarantee the delivery of adequate and urgent relief aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Al Hashimy reviewed and evaluated ways to strengthen the channels and mechanisms in place regarding humanitarian endeavors during discussions with Andreas Antoniades, Accountant General of the Ministry of Treasury, and Marilena Raouna, Minister of State for European Affairs in Cyprus.
This came after the World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy was targeted on April 2, 2024, which resulted in the freezing of relief efforts within the Maritime Corridor Initiative.
The initiative, which was started on March 8, has a lot of support from around the world, including the US, the EU, and several other nations. It also works with UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, to supply enough additional aid by sea.
Al Hashimy emphasized the significance of maintaining the multilateral, international cooperative approach to address the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and minimizing harm to innocent civilians as soon as possible by guaranteeing the prompt, extensive, safe, unhindered, and sustainable delivery of aid through all accessible land, air, and sea routes.
Furthermore, she underlined the necessity of facilitating the opening of additional roads and crossings to transport more aid, and intensifying the necessary efforts to support endeavors to alleviate human suffering in Gaza, and avoid famine.
Additionally, the parties from Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates reiterated their denunciation of violent acts directed towards aid workers who commit their lives to providing for the underprivileged. Both parties emphasized that if the international partners in the Maritime Corridor Initiative decide to resume operations in the corridor between Cyprus and Gaza in the future, Israeli authorities must give transparent and believable inquiry findings and pledge not to repeat similar activities.
During the talks, Al Hashimy also reiterated the UAE’s steadfast and unflinching support for the Gaza Strip in these terrible times, as well as its commitment to the brotherly Palestinian people.