Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Participates in the Fourth Meeting of the International Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in Cairo
Cairo, February 17, 2025-Dr. Varsen Shaheen, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, participated in the Fourth Meeting of the International Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt. The meeting was attended by Dr. Badr Abdel Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Ms. Sigrid Kaag, UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, and representatives from over 35 countries, organizations, and regional and international bodies, with Dr. Shaheen being accompanied by Assistant Foreign Minister Dr. Omar Awadallah.
In her speech, Minister Shaheen expressed deep appreciation to the Global Alliance and to the Arab Republic of Egypt for their steadfast support and unwavering commitment to defending the rights of the Palestinian people during these unprecedented times. She emphasized the crucial role of the Global Alliance and expressed hope that it would soon adopt a clear approach outlining concrete measures to implement the two-state solution.
Minister Shaheen emphasized the urgency of the current situation, particularly in light of recent statements by U.S. President Trump suggesting the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan. She warned that such proposals pose a grave threat to the region and must be firmly rejected. Reaffirming that Palestine is non-negotiable, she stressed that its land is sacred and its people resilient, declaring that no force can erase their existence, history, culture, or inalienable right to freedom and self-determination. She called on the international community to take a unified and decisive stance to prevent any attempt to displace Palestinians from their homeland.
Minister Shaheen strongly denounced Israel’s escalating crimes in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where Palestinian towns and refugee camps face intensified military attacks, forced displacement, and systematic repression. She called for urgent international intervention to halt these violations, which blatantly undermine international law.
A key focus of her remarks was Israel’s decision to ban UNRWA’s operations in the Palestinian Territory, describing it as a grave violation of international law and a direct attack on the rights of Palestinian refugees. She underscored the agency’s vital role in providing education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid to nearly six million refugees, warning that dismantling UNRWA would have catastrophic consequences, including depriving over 660,000 students of education and cutting off life-saving assistance to over 1.2 million refugees in Gaza alone.
Minister Shaheen further condemned Israel’s broader strategy to erase Palestinian refugee rights, citing its efforts to seize UNRWA’s headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem and replace it with a colonial settlement. She stressed that undermining UNRWA is not just an assault on Palestinian rights but also a direct threat to regional stability and the viability of the two-state solution.
In conclusion, Minister Shaheen called on the international community to take decisive action against Israel’s attempts to delegitimize UNRWA and to secure sustainable funding for the agency. She expressed deep gratitude to UNRWA’s staff for their unwavering commitment, reaffirming that Palestinian refugee rights are non-negotiable and that UNRWA’s mandate is indispensable.