Cameron denies that UK has double standards at press conference with Egypt's FM

CAIRO – 21 December 2023: British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has denied accusations that the United Kingdom has double standards by dealing differently with each of the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

“I don’t accept that the UK has double standards,” Cameron said in a joint press conference with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, in response to a question by an Egyptian reporter who asked him to respond to the accusations.

Cameron asserted that the case of Russia and Ukraine is totally different from the conflict in Gaza.

“The case with Russia and Ukraine is incredibly simple. One country, Russia, invaded another country, Ukraine. It completely blitzes its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Cameron stated.

“I believe every country should condemn what Russia did, should support Ukraine,” Cameron said.

He added that while the situation in Gaza today is an absolute tragedy, “we have to remember October 7th when Israel suffered the equivalent of many 9/11s and an invasion all combined before the events in Gaza.”

الآن: وقائع المؤتمر الصحفي المشترك لوزيري خارجية مصر وبريطانيا من مقر قصر التحرير بالقاهرة.

Now: The Joint Press conference between 🇪🇬 FM Sameh Shoukry & 🇬🇧 Foreign Secretary @David_Cameron at Tahrir Palace, Cairo@UKinEgypt@FCDOGovUK
https://t.co/UMmagrXmWt

— Egypt MFA Spokesperson (@MfaEgypt) December 21, 2023

Cameron said the UK holds unwavering standards, including that Israel has to obey international humanitarian law, minimize the number of civilian casualties.

“Let me be frank, I want this conflict to end as soon as possible. What we need is a sustainable ceasefire, where Hamas is no longer able to threaten Israel with rockets and terrorism and where the fighting can stop,” Cameron said.

He also stressed the need for finding a long-term solution and achieving peace and stability, where each of the Israeli and Palestinian states can live securely in their borders.

In the meantime, Cameron said he is all in favor of pauses in the fighting so aid can get aid in and hostages can get out.

“If we can have a pause today to stop that happen, no one will be more delighted than me,” he added.

Achieving sustainable ceasefire

During the press conference, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Cameron held a meeting with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi this morning, where they discussed joint work toward the issuance of a new resolution by the UN Security Council.

This resolution takes into consideration the humanitarian aspects and the delivery of aid in the first place, Shoukry stressed.

The top Egyptian diplomat said the UK has a special responsibility, as a permanent Security Council member, to address the issue of Gaza and other regional issues.

For his part, Cameron thanked Egypt for the immense work it is doing with the Red Crescent to get aid into Gaza and the help Egypt is giving to get British nationals and others out of Gaza.

“We are pushing very hard to make sure that Karm Abu Salem crossing is properly open for trucks to go in with aid to help people in Gaza,” Cameron said. “We need to see that grow.”

Cameron said Britain is working on other maritime options and opportunities for aid to come from Cyprus to Gaza through British ships.

“Everything that can be done must be done to get aid into Gaza to help people in the desperate situation they are in.”