Abu Dhabi: Egypt has called on international delegations wishing to visit the border area near Gaza to express support for Palestinian rights to secure prior approval, citing safety concerns and sensitive security conditions.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that while Egypt welcomes the global outpouring of support for Palestinian rights, it also emphasizes that all requests must adhere to established regulatory procedures, which have been enforced since the start of the Gaza war.
The ministry elaborated that these procedures involve submitting an official request through Egyptian embassies abroad, foreign embassies in Cairo, or through organizational representatives to the foreign ministry.
"Egypt welcomes the regional and international support, whether official or popular, for legitimate Palestinian rights and rejection of siege, starvation, and Israel's blatant and systematic violations against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," the foreign ministry's statement read.
However, the ministry stressed the importance of adhering to these established regulatory measures "to ensure the safety of visiting delegations due to the sensitive security conditions since the onset of the crisis in Gaza."
It further clarified that "no requests or invitations will be considered or responded to if submitted outside the framework specified by the regulatory provisions and the established mechanism in this regard."
Additionally, the ministry noted that numerous visits by foreign governmental and non-governmental human rights organizations have previously been arranged through these channels.
Similarly, the foreign ministry reaffirmed that foreign citizens intending to come to Egypt must adhere to Egyptian law and regulations, including obtaining necessary visas or permits.