Cairo: Following their talks in Cairo on Monday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, emphasized the necessity of an immediate return to the Gaza ceasefire agreement. They highlighted the urgent need for the delivery of humanitarian aid and rejected any proposals for the displacement of Palestinians.
According to Qatar News Agency, during a joint press conference with Macron, El-Sisi noted that their discussions included the significance of reconstructing the Gaza Strip. They agreed on the importance of coordinating with France to organize a conference on reconstruction following the ceasefire agreement. El-Sisi pointed out their unified stance against any calls for displacing Palestinians from their territories. The discussions also covered the Arab plan for Gaza's recovery and reconstruction, with an agreement to coordinate joint efforts for the upcoming conference that Egypt plans to host immediately after hostilities in the Strip cease.
El-Sisi underscored that achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East is unattainable without a just settlement of the Palestinian cause. He mentioned that his discussions with Macron explored potential avenues for launching a credible political process to revive peace efforts and establish a Palestinian state based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The talks also covered the situations in Syria, Lebanon, and Sudan, as well as regional developments in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.
Macron affirmed France's support for Egypt's stance, which opposes the displacement of Palestinians. He emphasized his strong opposition to the forced displacement of Gazans and the annexation of Gaza and the West Bank, noting that such actions violate international law and threaten regional security. Macron reiterated his endorsement of the construction plan adopted by the Arab League in late March.
Additionally, both presidents signed a joint declaration to elevate their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, along with several agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two nations.