President Sisi urges int’l pressure for immediate Gaza ceasefire in meeting with US congressmen

CAIRO – 27 March 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has called upon the international community to fulfill its responsibility in exerting pressure to achieve an immediate and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.

Sisi welcomed a delegation of Republican and Democratic US congressmen on Wednesday, led by Republican Representative August Pfluger, Chairman of the Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Subcommittee for the 118th Congress.

During the meeting, Sisi reiterated the importance of preventing the escalation of military operations in Gaza's city of Rafah and reaffirmed Egypt's rejection of any efforts aimed at displacing Palestinians from their lands.

Sisi highlighted Egypt's intensified efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the delivery of relief aid to alleviate the immense suffering of over 2 million Palestinians.

Both Sisi and the Congressmen emphasized the regional and international security risks posed by the conflict's spillover.

Moreover, they underlined the significance of the two-state solution as a means to restore and consolidate security and stability in the region.

 

The meeting took place just two days after the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2728, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan after nearly six months of war.

The resolution received approval from 14 out of the council's 15 member countries, with the United States abstaining from voting instead of exercising its veto power as in previous resolutions during the conflict.

Despite the resolution, Israel has continued its assaults in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 32,000 people, injuries to more than 74,000, mass displacement, and pushing many to the brink of famine since the war started.

Egypt welcomed the resolution as a “first and necessary step to halt the bloodshed,” while also expressing criticism of its “lack of balance due to its limited timeframe.”

On Tuesday, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, emphasized the need to immediately implement the resolution and work on achieving a permanent ceasefire that extends beyond Ramadan.