Sisi to Macron: An Israeli ground invasion of Gaza will claim scores of civilian victims

CAIRO – 25 October 2023: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said he discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron today the importance of working to prevent an Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, saying it would “claim scores of civilian lives.”

In a press conference with the French president after a Cairo summit, Sisi said around 6,000 civilians were killed so far in the Gaza Strip, about half of whom are children, affirming the need to take this into consideration while continuing the war.

Sisi said he agreed with Macron on the need to ensure that the Gaza crisis does not expand to include other elements or regions.

Sisi said he also discussed with Macron the importance of containing and de-escalating the situation in the strip.

The Egyptian president also highlighted Macron’s understanding of the “extreme risk” posed by an exodus of the Palestinian people from Gaza.

 

“We agreed that not only Egypt will not allow this, but this also poses a great risk for the Palestinian cause,” Sisi stated.

Sisi said he agreed with Macron that the absence of the political horizon to resolve the Palestinian cause was among the causes of five rounds of fighting over the past 20 years.

Sisi added that he and Macron also agreed that the displacement of Palestinian to Egypt cannot be a solution.

“If the two-state solution has not worked while the Palestinians are on their land then it is illogical that it works while they are not,” Sisi stated.

The Egyptian president warned that while the announced goal of the Israeli war in the strip is to eliminate Hamas and the armed factions, this can take “very long years.”

 

Sisi said he and Macron discussed the importance of giving the opportunity and time for working on the release of more captives in Gaza by achieving as much de-escalation as possible.

He added that Egypt is keen to play a positive role in Gaza crisis.

Over the past 19 days, the Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed more than 6,500 Palestinians, injured more than 18,000 and displaced around 1.5 million Palestinians out of the 2.3 million population in Gaza.

The Israeli strikes come in retaliation for an attack by Hamas on Israeli cities on 7 October, in which more than 1,400 Israelis were killed and dozens more were taken captives.

For his part, Macron said during his Egypt visit that a wide-scale ground operation in Gaza will be a mistake, noting that such operation has to be limited in order to not harm civilians.

Macron said France will work with Egypt to release all captives taken by Hamas.

He also called for lifting the siege on Gaza.

Macron said France will not send French military personnel to the region in order to prevent further escalation of the situation.

The French president said his country has donated 10 million euros for the Palestinians, adding that a humanitarian aid plane for Gaza will land in Cairo on Friday and that another plane will be sent later.

 

In his presser with Sisi, Macron affirmed the need to address the political track for the conflict, highlighting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in having a state.

He affirmed the need to work to achieve the two-state solution in order for Palestine and Israel to live in peace and security, each in their state.

Macron affirmed the need for a peace initiative that tackles the root causes of the problem, especially by combating terrorism.

He also affirmed the need for protecting civilians and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza without obstacles, saying that France has insisted on the delivery of drinking water to Gaza.

Macron expressed appreciation for Egypt’s efforts since the 7th of October, including by organizing the Cairo Summit for Peace on Saturday to discuss the situation in Gaza.

He added that France does not practice double standards and always defends universal human values.

“Human lives are important and all victims deserve our sympathy,” he stated.