Ambassador Ragy al-Etreby, Egypt’s presidential representative to the G20 and Assistant Foreign Minister for Regional and International Economic Affairs, on Monday, September 1, 2025, raised alarm over the systematic and deliberate policies of using starvation as a weapon in Gaza and the Palestinian territories, describing it as an attempt to break the will of the Palestinian people.
Al-Etreby delivered a speech on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty during the inaugural official meeting of the G20, first ever held outside the member states, in Cairo.
Etreby said that when the G20 devises solutions, it must do so for all, emphasizing that discussions should translate into concrete actions and effective plans to tackle food security challenges worldwide.
He emphasized the importance of the three-day meetings hosted by Egypt in coordination with South Africa.
The meeting demonstrates due attention paid by the G20 to African issues, the ambassador said.
He added that the discussions taking place during the meeting are crucial for shaping the outcomes of the upcoming ministerial meeting that will take place in September as well as the Johannesburg Summit in November.
Egypt has participated as a guest in five G20 cycles, including under the presidencies of China (2016), Japan (2019), India (2023), Brazil (2024), and now South Africa (2025).
The G20 brings together the world’s largest economies, representing about 80 percent of global GDP and 75 percent of international trade.
