President Sisi and FMs of Slovenia, Portugal express rejection of displacement of Gazans

CAIRO – 25 November 2023: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held a meeting in Cairo with Tanja Fajon, Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and João Cravinho, Portugal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting on Saturday, Sisi, Fajon and Cravinho voiced categorical rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people from their lands in Gaza, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmi said in a statement.

They highlighted the necessity to continue efforts to firm up the humanitarian truce declared in Gaza, and build on it to reach a permanent ceasefire.

They also called for providing immediate and effective support to the humanitarian relief efforts for the Gaza Strip, in a manner sufficient to support the people of Gaza who have been deprived of their livelihoods and security.

Sisi expressed appreciation for the positions of Portugal and Slovenia regarding the conflict, pointing out Slovenia’s non-permanent membership in the Security Council for the years 2024/2025.

He stressed the need for the international community to move, in earnest, to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue, and recognize the independent Palestinian state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

This shall take place in a manner that achieves justice and ensures permanent security and stability in the region, for all its people, Sisi affirmed.

The Slovenian and Portuguese foreign ministers welcomed the humanitarian truce in Gaza and valued the leading Egyptian role at the strategic, political and humanitarian levels throughout the crisis since its outbreak last October 7.

Egypt’s efforts were culminated with the joint mediation that led to a truce and the exchanges of release of hostages and detainees. The two top diplomats also acknowledged Egypt’s role in evacuating foreign nationals from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas and Israel are ready to finalize the captive-for-prisoners release today on the second day of the four-day humanitarian pause between the two sides in the war-torn strip.

According to Israeli reports, Hamas will release around 13 Israeli captives in exchange for 42 Palestinian captives on the second day of the Gaza humanitarian truce.

On the first day of the truce, Hamas released 24 civilians, including 13 Israelis, 10 Thais, and one Filipino on Friday. In return, Israel released 39 women and children who were in Israeli prisons.