The Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, called for the urgent facilitation of access for humanitarian and medical aid to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, warning of the serious humanitarian repercussions of delays in meeting the needs of civilians there.

The Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement that this came during discussions held by Ammar last night, Thursday, with a U.S. Congressional delegation headed by the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Joe Wilson, as part of a friendship and working visit to Tunisia.

The statement added that "Ammar discussed with the American delegation the most important regional and international issues of mutual interest, foremost of which is the tragic situation in the Gaza Strip."

It explained that the two sides also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and develop trade exchanges between the two countries, emphasizing the depth and strength of the historical friendship relations between Tunisia and the United States since the signing of a Peace and Friendship Treaty in 1797.

The statement noted that the American delegation, for its part, praised the strength of the friendship bonds between the peoples of the two countries, affirming the great interest the U.S. Congress places on Tunisia's security and economic stability and on enhancing relations between the two friendly countries.