Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi received Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN, at the Presidential Palace in Cairo.
Ahmed Fahmy, the official spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency, stated that the meeting addressed various international and regional issues, with a focus on the developments in the Gaza Strip.
President El-Sisi reviewed the intensive efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire and facilitate the exchange of detainees.
He emphasized the need for adequate humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of those affected in the Gaza Strip, whether through coordinated ground routes with relevant UN agencies or through aerial drops, especially in northern Gaza.
In this context, President el-Sisi commended the Secretary-General’s stance on the ongoing crisis and his commitment to international law and humanitarian law. He praised Guterres’ continuous efforts to urge the international community to end the war and protect civilians.
The President emphasized the Security Council’s responsibility in this regard and stressed the danger of some countries cutting their support for UNRWA, which constitutes collective punishment for innocent Palestinians.
On his part, the Secretary-General expressed his deep appreciation for Egypt’s regional role as a pivotal pillar of stability.
Guterres commended Egypt’s efforts to push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and its commitment to keeping the Rafah border crossing open continuously over the past months since the start of the current crisis.
The UN official mentioned his visit yesterday to the crossing and praised Egypt’s enormous effort in leading and managing the aid delivery process to the people of Gaza, despite the obstacles and severe difficulties faced by this operation.
He reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire for humanitarian purposes to allow the entry and effective distribution of aid to the people of the enclave.
The meeting witnessed alignment in positions regarding the seriousness of the situation and the necessity to avoid fueling factors leading to an escalation of the conflict.
There was also a firm rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands and a warning against any military operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah, given its catastrophic implications on the already deteriorating situation.
President el-Sisi and the UN Secretary-General emphasized the inevitability of a two-state solution as the sole path to achieve justice, security, and stability in the region, as well as the necessity of creating conducive conditions to activate it.
