Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has pressed the international community to shoulder its responsibility towards providing urgent aid and humanitarian assistance to residents of the Gaza Strip to ease their burdens, reiterating the need for reducing escalations and not subjecting civilians to policies of collective punishment by imposing a siege, hunger or forced displacement.
The president’s remarks were made during his meeting on Monday with visiting French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna in the presence of Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy explained that the meeting witnessed the affirmation from both sides on the strategic relations binding the two countries in the various economic, development and cultural fields, in addition to the need for intensifying consultations and coordination between the two sides in the various political and security fields of common concern. He added that such ties were reflected over the past days through intensive phone calls between President Sisi and his French opposite Emmanuel Macron with the aim of preserving and maintaining security and stability of the Middle East, the Mediterranean basin and Africa.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged viewpoints over the latest regional developments especially the military escalation in the Gaza Strip as the French side disclosed its views in this regard, added the spokesman.
The French minister praised Egypt’s pivotal role in dealing with this vital regional file with all wisdom and responsibility from the various political and humanitarian aspects, said the spokesman.
The two sides agreed on the seriousness of current situation which threatens security and stability of the region, asserting the necessity of working on not expanding the circle of the conflict in addition to providing protection for civilians in respect for the humanitarian international law, the spokesman noted.
Sisi also pointed out to the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in Gaza Strip, calling on the international community to shoulder its responsibility towards providing urgent humanitarian and relief aid to Gaza residents, the spokesman added.
The two sides also agreed on the importance of exerting strenuous efforts by the international community to resolve the Palestinian issue through working out a just and comprehensive solution based on the two-state solution and the international terms of reference so as to realise security and stability for all peoples of the region, the spokesman added.
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