CAIRO, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday voiced regret over the international community's failure to properly address the humanitarian suffering of Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
He made the remarks during a phone conversation with Tariq Ahmad, the British minister of state for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth, and the United Nations, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The two sides discussed the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the daily hardships faced by Palestinians, during which Shoukry condemned "double standards" that have applied to the issues.
During the talk, Shoukry stressed the crucial need to allow humanitarian and relief aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave, and voiced concern about the severe ramifications of any Israeli ground operations in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, said the statement.
The two officials reaffirmed the legal, humanitarian, and ethical responsibility of the international community to end the crisis and halt Israeli violations in the region.
They also underscored the urgency of implementing a ceasefire, releasing hostages, and achieving a lasting peace.
Israel has pushed forward a large-scale offensive against Gaza-ruling Hamas to retaliate against the latter's rampage through southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.
The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 29,954 as the Israeli military killed 76 in the past 24 hours, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Wednesday. ■
