Egypt repeatedly warned against Israel’s plans to make Gaza completely uninhabitable, Sisi

CAIRO – 13 March 2024: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al Sisi welcomed on Wednesday, Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte on his visit to Egypt, expressing that the visit demonstrates the depth of our bilateral relations and the level of joint coordination and cooperation between the two countries.

During a joint press conference, Sisi said that his discussions with Rutte confirmed the two countries’ commitment to exploring ways to forge closer bilateral relations, given the broad prospects of cooperation offered in the various political, economic, scientific and cultural spheres.

Sisi added that the discussions highlighted alignment in views with regard to Egypt’s crucial role as a reliable partner for the European Union and its member states on a range of common ground issues, including illegal migration, combating terrorism, and reinforcing security and stability in the region so as to achieve Egyptian European interests.

The two leaders also agreed on the significant potential for increasing trade between the two countries and attracting more direct Dutch investment to the Egyptian market, notably in sectors of common interest including renewable and green energy.

Sisi and Rutte also discussed the issues of illegal migration and refugees.

“I reviewed Egypt’s efforts in hosting over 9 million guests, who enjoy the same public services as Egyptian citizens. This fact underscores the need to strengthen stability in the region‘s countries to address the phenomenon of illegal migration and asylum.” Sisi said during the conference.

Regarding the on-going war in Gaza, President Sisi said that his discussions with Rutte focused on the situation in the region, primarily the war in the Gaza Strip.

Sisi said: “I confirmed, once again, the crucial and imperative need for an urgent and immediate ceasefire and an end to Israel’s hostilities. Within this context, I called on the Prime Minister of the Netherlands to exert his genuine efforts in this regard as a fundamental pre-condition for ending this humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and halting the escalation and tensions in various parts of the region as well.”

Sisi affirmed that the practices of the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip constitute a formidable and flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.

“Egypt has repeatedly warned against Israel’s plans to make the Gaza Strip completely uninhabitable. It also cautions against the Israeli plan to launch a ground military operation against the Palestinian city of Rafah, which jeopardies the lives of more than one and a half million already displaced people, whose protection falls on Israel as stipulated in the rules of intentional law.” Sisi said

Sisi also confirm that the decision by several countries to suspend their contributions to The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, infringes upon all moral norms and values, and exposes, once again, a double standard in addressing Palestinian rights.

“An entire international agency should not be punished based on allegations leveled against individual employees. Moreover, UNRWA, is the sole entity responsible for receiving and distributing assistance and relief in Gaza, and this role should not be interfered with.” Sisi said

He added that the events unfolding in Gaza, in full view of the world, taking place in conjunction with policies that obstruct the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank, including unleashing settler violence, carrying out demolition and expulsion operations, conducting military incursions and confiscating land in West Bank cities, in addition to settlement expansions and cementing the occupation.

Sisi also reiterated that the suffering of the Palestinian people in all parts of the occupied Palestinian territories over the past decades will not end except through the recognition of the State of Palestine, enjoying full membership of the United Nations and the implementation of the two-state solution, in accordance with international references.

“I also reaffirm that procrastinating a solution to this critical issue poses a significant threat to the stability of not only the region but the entire world.”