Sisi to Macron: Egypt rejects any form of Palestinian displacement from Gaza

CAIRO – 17 February 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s unequivocal rejection of any form of displacement of Palestinians in a phone call with France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday.

Sisi highlighted that this stance rejecting Palestinian displacement enjoys global support, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement. Macron reaffirmed France’s full support for Egypt’s position.

During the call, they discussed ongoing efforts aimed at achieving ceasefire in Gaza, facilitating the exchange of detainees, and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid.

They emphasized the importance of cooperation among relevant parties to achieve progress in halting bloodshed and alleviating humanitarian suffering in Gaza.

The presidents expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences of any possible military escalation in Rafah, which would adversely affect approximately 1.5 million Palestinians in the area.

Additionally, they highlighted the threat posed by the Gaza conflict spillover in the region, calling for urgent progress in efforts to achieve ceasefire and promote regional calm.

Sisi and Macron call for advancing the pursuit of a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as the sole path to attain genuine security and enduring stability in the region.

Israel is planning an offensive in the city of Rafah, which falls on the Egypt-Gaza border and which is the last safe haven for Palestinians in the strip.

Egypt has voiced its full rejection of the planned Israeli operation, calling for uniting all international and regional efforts to prevent the attacks against the city.

Cairo has repeatedly voiced rejection of Israel’s “systematic policy” of attempting to displace the Palestinians outside their lands, including to Sinai.

Diaa Rashwan, Head of the State Information Service (SIS), reiterated on Friday Egypt’s “unequivocal and irreversible rejection of any forced or voluntary displacement of Palestinian brothers from the Gaza strip, particularly to Egyptian territories.”

He emphasized that such displacement would definitely liquidate the Palestinian cause and pose a threat to Egyptian sovereignty and national security.