Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General, received Ms. Reem Radovan, Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany, at the General Secretariat headquarters on 20 July. The two sides discussed the latest humanitarian and political developments in the Gaza Strip, in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression and its repercussions on the civilian population.
During the meeting, the Assistant Secretary-General stressed the importance and urgency of reaching an immediate ceasefire agreement as a necessary step towards a lasting settlement that ensures peace and stability in the Gaza Strip. He underscored the need to implement early recovery projects and enhance international efforts to rebuild the Strip following the extensive destruction caused by the aggression. In this regard, he referred to the Gaza Reconstruction Plan adopted by Arab leaders in early March, noting that the plan constitutes a comprehensive framework that begins with relief and early recovery, leading to reconstruction, while safeguarding the continued presence of the Palestinian people on their land and preventing any efforts, plans, or attempts to displace them.
The meeting also addressed the upcoming two-state solution conference, scheduled to take place at the end of July at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Ambassador Zaki highlighted the significance of the conference and the symbolic timing of its convening, expressing satisfaction that it is being held despite the challenging circumstances facing the Palestinian cause since October 2023. He noted that the General Secretariat is engaged in the conference’s proceedings, leading one of its working groups and key thematic areas in cooperation with the European Union.
For her part, the German Minister affirmed her country’s interest in contributing to efforts aimed at achieving peace and security in the Gaza Strip, as well as its support for the Arab plan for Gaza’s reconstruction. She expressed Germany’s readiness to cooperate with regional and international partners to ensure that aid is delivered in an effective and equitable manner. The Minister also reaffirmed her country’s support for the two-state solution and its rejection of any Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories, whether in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank.
