Cairo – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi affirmed, on Monday evening, his country’s support for the Palestinian Authority and its continued intensive efforts aimed at calm and ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
This came during the Egyptian President’s meeting with his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, in the capital, Cairo, according to a statement by the Egyptian Presidency.
During the meeting, the Egyptian President stressed “his country’s support, leadership and people, for the Palestinian cause, and rejection of all forms of Israeli escalation against the brotherly Palestinian people in Gaza or the West Bank,” according to the same statement.
He pointed to “the continuation of intensive Egyptian efforts, aimed at calm, a ceasefire, and the implementation of humanitarian aid, while working, at the same time, to protect the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the lines of June 4, 1967, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy.”
On June 10, the Security Council adopted a draft American resolution, No. 2735, which stipulates a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, the exchange of prisoners, reconstruction, the return of the displaced, and the rejection of any demographic change in the Strip, amid continued mediation led by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to achieve a truce in the Gaza Strip amid Israeli obstacles that did not yield results.
Al-Sisi stressed “his country’s support for the Palestinian Authority, and its great efforts to help the brothers reach understandings and consensus in visions among all sectors of the Palestinian people, to ensure confronting the grave challenges and threats facing the Palestinian cause in this delicate historical circumstance.”
On Saturday, Cairo hosted consultations between the Fatah and Hamas movements, to discuss forming a committee to manage the Gaza Strip, according to an Egyptian security source who spoke to “Cairo News.”
In turn, the Palestinian President presented his vision of the developments in the situation, and expressed his “deep thanks for the historical role and the strenuous efforts that Egypt is making without interruption to support the Palestinian cause,” according to the Egyptian presidency’s statement.
According to the official Palestinian news agency “Wafa,” the Egyptian and Palestinian presidents exchanged “opinions and visions about the joint efforts made by the Palestinian and Egyptian leadership to achieve an immediate and sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, and accelerate the introduction of aid to the Palestinian people.”
The meeting also included an exchange of views on “the efforts of the State of Palestine to implement the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in accordance with the General Assembly’s resolution, convene the International Peace Conference, and continue working towards obtaining full Palestine membership in the United Nations.”
On July 19, the International Court of Justice said that “the continued presence of the State of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal,” stressing that the Palestinians have “the right to self-determination,” and that “the Israeli settlements existing on the occupied territories must be evacuated.”
The Palestinian President stressed “the seriousness of the decisions and actions of the Israeli occupation government related to banning the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Palestine, as this has serious repercussions aimed at liquidating the refugee issue.”
Earlier Monday, Israel informed the United Nations of the cancellation of the agreement regarding the work of UNRWA, which means prohibiting its activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, if the decision enters into force within three months.
On October 28, the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) finally approved a ban on UNRWA activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, in a move condemned by regional, European and Western countries and international organizations.
On Sunday, the Palestinian President arrived in Cairo to participate in the World Urban Forum in its twelfth session.
The meeting of the Palestinian and Egyptian presidents came in the wake of a genocide in Gaza committed by Israel, with American support, since October 7, 2023, which left more than 145,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and famine that killed dozens of children and the elderly.
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**Interview with Dr. Ahmed Al-Masri, Middle East Affairs Expert**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Al-Masri. President Sisi recently reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the Palestinian cause during his meeting with Mahmoud Abbas. What do you think are the implications of this strong stance?
**Dr. Al-Masri:** Thank you for having me. President Sisi’s support reinforces Egypt’s traditional role as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His emphasis on rejecting Israeli escalations and advocating for a ceasefire is critical in the current context, where tensions are high. By positioning itself as a leader in this cause, Egypt seeks to assert its influence in regional politics while also responding to domestic expectations for solidarity with the Palestinians.
**Interviewer:** The agreement on initiating humanitarian aid and the potential for a ceasefire are also significant. How do you see Egypt’s role evolving in this process?
**Dr. Al-Masri:** Egypt has been actively involved in mediating between various Palestinian factions and ensuring that humanitarian aid flows into Gaza. By facilitating discussions between Fatah and Hamas, as mentioned during the recent consultations in Cairo, Egypt is laying the groundwork for a more unified Palestinian response. This is crucial not just for addressing immediate humanitarian needs but also for strengthening the Palestinian Authority’s legitimacy.
**Interviewer:** Sisi also emphasized the importance of Palestinian statehood based on the June 4, 1967 lines. How realistic is this goal in the current geopolitical environment?
**Dr. Al-Masri:** This goal remains a cornerstone of international positions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, achieving this statehood is complicated by ongoing Israeli settlements and geopolitical dynamics, particularly U.S.-Israeli relationships. Egypt’s support for this position is important as it aligns with broader international resolutions but requires robust diplomatic efforts and possibly a shift in how both sides perceive negotiations.
**Interviewer:** Both presidents discussed the role of international bodies such as the UN. What is the significance of this in addressing the conflict?
**Dr. Al-Masri:** Engaging international organizations like the UN is vital for legitimacy and support. By pushing for the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and working towards full UN membership for Palestine, the Palestinian leadership aims to garner international recognition and pressure on Israel. However, the effectiveness of such efforts largely depends on the political will of influential countries and their commitment to acting on these resolutions.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Al-Masri, for your insights on this important topic.
**Dr. Al-Masri:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial we continue to discuss and analyze these developments closely.