President El-Sisi affirms Egypt's firm, supportive stance toward the Palestinian people

CAIRO – 8 August 2025: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the Palestinian president expressed his sincere appreciation for Egypt's unwavering positions in support of the Palestinian issue, and for the ongoing humanitarian aid provided by the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Palestinian people, in light of the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian president praised Egypt's strong stance in rejecting the displacement of the Palestinian people. He affirmed that the State of Palestine stands with the leadership, army, government, and people of Egypt in confronting any attempts to destabilize its security and stability. The Palestinian president also warned of the gravity of the decision taken by the Israeli government yesterday to reoccupy the Gaza Strip and displace its population to the south. He considered this decision a new crime to be added to the series of Israeli violations in the West Bank and Jerusalem. He affirmed his determination to continue political action at all levels, including the UN Security Council, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to mobilize regional and international support against these plans.

Palestinian President Abbas stressed the need to enable the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, while emphasizing the importance of an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages and captives, and the entry of humanitarian aid. This is in addition to the State of Palestine assuming the security responsibility backed by Arab and international support, as well as the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Strip, so as to ensure the unity of law and order and legitimate arms under the umbrella of the Palestinian state.

President El-Sisi affirmed Egypt's firm and supportive stance toward the Palestinian people, noting Egypt's continued intensive efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, deliver humanitarian aid in the Strip, and secure the release of hostages and captives. The President also emphasized Egypt's categorical rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from their land.

The Israeli Security Cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal for the Israeli military to reoccupy Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip, as part of an effort to push more than one million Palestinians toward the southern part of the besieged enclave.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, published by The Times of Israel, the cabinet endorsed Netanyahu’s plan aimed at defeating the Palestinian Hamas movement. The statement noted that Israel would provide humanitarian assistance to civilians “outside combat zones.”

A majority of cabinet members also backed a five-point list of demands that Israel would require in exchange for ending the war in Gaza. These include: the disarmament of Hamas; the return of all 50 remaining hostages—20 of whom are believed to be alive; the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip; Israeli security control over the territory; and the establishment of an alternative civilian government or the reinstatement of the Palestinian Authority.

The Prime Minister's Office stated that most ministers rejected an "alternative plan" presented to the Security Cabinet, arguing it would not have ensured the defeat of Hamas or the return of the hostages.

While the statement did not detail the alternative proposal, it is believed to refer to a plan put forward by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who has publicly opposed the reoccupation of Gaza. Zamir warned that such an operation could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe and further jeopardize the lives of the hostages, The Times of Israel reported.

The decision to reoccupy Gaza City has sparked international condemnation and strong opposition within Israel. Critics, including members of the Israeli opposition, have labeled the plan "a disaster." Families of the hostages still believed to be held in Hamas tunnels have also voiced firm rejection.

The Palestinian presidency strongly condemned the Israeli Cabinet’s decision, calling it a dangerous escalation and a continuation of a policy of genocide. It denounced the plan as a crime aimed at forcibly displacing nearly one million Palestinians from Gaza City and the northern Strip to the south. The presidency described the move as a grave violation of international humanitarian law and United Nations resolutions, involving systematic killing, starvation, and siege.

Afterwards, the Israeli defense forces (IDF) -in a statement on its official Telegram Channel- announced that the forces are preparing for continuation of ground operations in the Gaza Strip.