Egypt and France FMs discuss Gaza ceasefire, two-state solution

CAIRO - 29 April 2024: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and his French counterpart Stephane Sejourne discussed Gaza on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh Monday. 

According to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the two ministers stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire as the only way out of the crisis, and preventing any Israeli moves to launch an attack on Rafah.

An attack on Rafah might cause a regional spillover, they said, adding that displacing Palestinians from their lands constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and increases the risk regional escalation.

They also reiterated the two-state solution as a basis for a comprehensive settlement of the conflict security and stability in the region. 

For his part, Shoukry emphasized that the recognition of a Palestinian state is one of the steps towards that goal. 

The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza dominates the talks, where 

Sejourne praised Egypt's essential role in the process of delivering aid to the strip despite the obstacles imposed by Israel.

He said France demands that Israel open all crossings to deliver the largest amount of urgent humanitarian aid.

They spoke of the escalation at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as the French Foreign Minister confirmed his country’s involvement in calming efforts to avoid the widening of the escalation and the outbreak of a new war in Lebanon. The two sides also share concern regarding the escalation of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, while emphasizing the importance of avoiding any action that would lead to an out-of-control escalation in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The two diplomats underscored the enhancement of bilateral relations, which culminated in raising the Egyptian-European relations to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

They also welcomed the frequent high-level visits between the Egypt and France recently, as well as close coordination regarding various regional and international challenges and crises.