Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi underscored the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Cairo on Monday.
“I want to stress clearly that lasting peace and stability in the Middle East will remain elusive until the Palestinian issue is resolved justly,” el-Sissi stated.
The two leaders also addressed the situation in Syria, highlighting the necessity of “maintaining Syria’s unity” during its transitional political phase, as well as the need to “restore the normal passage of vessels through the Suez Canal,” following targeted attacks on ships by Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Macron visited Egypt on Monday to meet with el-Sissi and later with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, both of whom are key Western allies advocating for a ceasefire.
This visit marked Macron’s second trip to Cairo since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. It comes at a pivotal moment for the region, following Israel’s reintroduction of a blockade in Gaza and the resumption of hostilities against Hamas, which disrupted the fragile ceasefire.
On Tuesday, Macron plans to travel to el-Arish “to advocate for a return to a ceasefire that would facilitate the release of all hostages, ensure the safety of the Gazan population, and allow for the reopening of crossing points for humanitarian aid to Gaza,” according to a statement from his office prior to his Cairo visit.
Israel terminated its ceasefire with Hamas last month, halting all imports of food, fuel, and humanitarian assistance to the 2 million Palestinians in the territory in an effort to compel Hamas to agree to new conditions for a ceasefire.
Egypt and Qatar have played crucial roles as mediators in discussions with Hamas. The conflict, now in its 18th month, began when militants from Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals. Currently, Hamas is believed to be holding 59 hostages, with 24 of them thought to be alive.
Israel’s counteroffensive in the region has resulted in the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.
