El Sisi, Gutteres Denounce Israeli Plans in Gaza, Advocate for Ceasefire

There has been an urgent call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza region which has been under strict siege by Isreal, conducting relentless airstrikes against Hamas for over five months. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, alongside visiting United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaffirmed this call at a joint press conference held in Cairo on Sunday.

They expressed firm opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from their land and any proposed Israeli military actions in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza.

During the discussions, according to an Egyptian presidency statement, both leaders cautioned against potential Israeli operations in Rafah, warning that such actions would have dire consequences on the already tensed situation in the city.

The statement added that their talks also revolved around the urgent need to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to facilitate the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to the people in the enclave.

President al-Sisi and the UN Secretary-General jointly advocated for conducive conditions to implement the two-state solution, stating that it is the only pathway to attain justice, security, and stability in the region.

Israel’s intentions to launch a significant ground offensive in Rafah, where approximately 1.5 million internally displaced Palestinians reside, have drawn widespread condemnation from the international community.

The ongoing Israel strikes in Gaza in retaliation for the attack launched by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage, have so far killed 32,226 Palestinians and injured 74,518 others, according to an updated the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry statement on Sunday.