Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Tuesday highlighted the dire situation faced by innocent Palestinians in Gaza, describing their plight as a profound humanitarian disgrace. He called for urgent action to restore their dignity, rights, and faith in international law.
The President’s remarks came in his speech at the emergency international conference on the Gaza crisis, under the theme “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza,” held in Jordan. The conference was jointly presided over by President Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
President Sisi stressed the importance of binding Israel to end the siege on Gaza and cease the use of starvation as a weapon against the people in the strip.
He also highlighted the necessity for Israel to remove all obstacles for the immediate, sustainable, and sufficient delivery of humanitarian and relief aid to Gaza through all borders.
“The innocent Palestinian people of Gaza are besieged by disgraceful killing, mass starvation, and unspeakable terror and are subjected to both physical and psychological confinement, that stand as a stark reproach to the collective conscience of humanity. Today, they gaze upon us with eyes pleading with sorrow and hope, yearning for our meeting to offer them a glimmer of hope for a different tomorrow that restores their lost human dignity and their legitimate right to live in peace. They hope for a future that reestablishes some confidence in the international law and in the justice and credibility of the so-called Rules-based International Order, President Sisi said.
President Sisi expressed gratitude to Jordan for hosting the conference and to UN Secretary-General António Guterres for his efforts in addressing the war in Gaza. He extended his appreciation to all the nations attending the conference, emphasising Egypt’s honour in co-chairing this significant event.
The responsibility for the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Gaza Strip lies squarely with the Israeli side. This crisis is the deliberate outcome of a devastating, vindictive war waged against the Strip, its people, its infrastructure, and its medical system. This outrageous war has employed mass starvation and brutal siege to render the Gaza Strip uninhabitable and forcibly displace its inhabitants from their lands, with utter disregard for international conventions and moral humanitarian principles and standards, he added.
Egypt has repeatedly warned against the menace of this war, its repercussions, and the formidable consequences of the Israeli military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah. These hostilities created a situation on the ground that obstructs the flow of humanitarian aid and relief, which were primarily entering the enclave through the Rafah crossing, President Sisi said.
The President outlined four key measures for immediate implementation. Welcoming UN Security Council Resolution 2735, Sisi called for a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of all hostages, and adherence to international humanitarian law to protect civilians and infrastructure.
The President demanded that Israel lift the siege, stop using starvation as a weapon, and remove barriers to the flow of humanitarian aid through all crossings into Gaza.
President Sisi called for increased funding for UNRWA to enable it to continue its critical role in helping Palestinian civilians and implementing relevant Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2720.
He stressed the necessity of creating conditions for the immediate return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in Gaza.
President Sisi concluded by affirming that military solutions would only bring more turmoil and bloodshed to the region. He reiterated the call for a two-state solution, recognising a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He praised nations like Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia for recognising the state of Palestine. He urged other countries to follow suit, aligning with justice, peace, and security.
