Egyptian presidential endeavors for peace amid Gaza conflict

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Fri, 20 Oct 2023 - 03:20 GMT

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Fri, 20 Oct 2023 - 03:20 GMT

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced his nomination for a new term in presidency on October 2- press photo

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced his nomination for a new term in presidency on October 2- press photo

CAIRO – 20 October 2023: Since the outbreak of the recent conflict in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Egypt, under the guidance of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, is at the forefront of intense diplomatic endeavors aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the violent clashes between Palestinian factions in Gaza and the Israeli military. The president has voiced serious concerns regarding the ongoing escalation of hostilities between the two sides. This comes in the wake of a series of attacks on Gaza, resulting in the tragic loss of nearly 4,000 Palestinian lives, including approximately 1,500 children.

 

In response to the deteriorating situation, President El-Sisi has engaged in extensive diplomatic outreach to both international and regional parties. His primary objective is to curtail the current escalation and prevent further violence, all while addressing the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. President El-Sisi has firmly rejected notions of displacing Gaza's population, emphasizing the importance of preserving the Palestinians' rights.

 

The president has also warned against the severe repercussions of the current crisis, highlighting the potential for further violence, which could pose a threat to regional stability and security. President El-Sisi's diplomatic efforts underscore the pressing need for international intervention and conflict resolution to avert further loss of life and to alleviate the suffering of Gaza's civilian population.

 

The situation in Gaza remains a matter of paramount concern for Egypt and the international community, which emphasizes the urgency of finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis.



Here, et highlights the key moves made by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi over the past three days:



1.    Meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan: On October 19, President El-Sisi met with King Abdullah II of Jordan to discuss the ongoing military escalation in Gaza and its humanitarian and security implications for the Palestinian people.

 

Both leaders emphasized the need to continue delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Rafah crossing, while strongly rejecting policies of collective punishment, including the blockade, the starvation, and the displacement of Palestinians to Egypt or Jordan, given the grave risks associated with these calls for regional security.


2.    Meeting with U.S. Central Command Commander Kenneth McKenzie: President El-Sisi received General Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, where they stressed the importance of de-escalation, and the international collaboration to contain the crisis.

 

They emphasized the necessity of reviving the path to a two-state solution and highlighted the security implications of the conflict extending to the entire regional sphere.


3.    Meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz: During their meeting, President El-Sisi underlined the current gravity of the situation in Gaza. Egypt firmly opposes policies involving the displacement of Palestinians and the hosting of residents from the affected areas in Sinai.

 

Such actions would threaten the resolution of the Palestinian issue and the potential transfer of Palestinian-Israeli confrontations and resistance into Sinai, contradicting Egypt's strategic commitment to peace and constituting an infringement on Egyptian sovereignty if Israel were to target resistance within Sinai.

 

President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to delivering aid to Gaza through the Rafah crossing and emphasized the importance of advancing the peace process.


4.    Meeting with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna: Egypt's role in addressing the Palestinian issue was commended by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna during her meeting with President El-Sisi. They discussed various political and humanitarian aspects of the crisis, highlighting its threats to regional security and stability. President El-Sisi reiterated his rejection of policies subjecting civilians to collective punishment.


In addition to these meetings, President El-Sisi engaged in phone conversations with several world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.


These discussions focused on the urgent need for de-escalation, protection of civilians, the safe and timely delivery of humanitarian aid, and the pursuit of a fair and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue based on established international references, all in light of the increasing threats to regional security and stability.


The 2023 Egypt International Peace Summit will take place in the Administrative Capital to discuss means to de-escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian Territories. Thus far, the leaders of Greece, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Italy, and Cyprus will also participate in the summit.

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