Al-Sisi hopes for an imminent ceasefire in Gaza (European)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed, on Wednesday, his hope that a ceasefire would be reached in the Gaza Strip in the coming days, and that “real relief” would begin for the residents of the Strip, denying that Egypt had closed the Rafah crossing.

In his speech at the “Able to Difference” celebration at the Al-Manara International Conference Center, east of Cairo, Al-Sisi denied that Egypt had closed the only Rafah border crossing with Gaza.

Al-Sisi said, "We are keen for the Rafah port to be an opportunity, a way, and a path to provide aid, and also to provide relief to those required to be helped, but the issue is not as easy as some imagine, and they believe that we say one thing and do something else."

He added, "Egypt never closed the crossing," but added, "But in order to provide assistance in situations of fighting, we must be careful that no problem occurs while we carry out this procedure," in reference to what the Egyptian authorities say are Israeli obstacles.

Al-Sisi’s statements come after US President Joe Biden said he expected a truce to occur in the Gaza Strip next Monday, about 3 months after the completion of a truce under Egyptian, Qatari and American sponsorship between the Palestinian factions in Gaza and Israel, within the framework of stopping the war that has been ongoing since October 7, leaving thousands of martyrs and wounded. .

Negotiations are currently taking place between the Palestinian factions and Israel, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, with the aim of reaching a calm in Gaza, releasing Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners, and supporting the humanitarian situation in the Strip.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip that has left tens of thousands martyred and injured, most of them children and women, according to Palestinian and UN data, which led to Israel being brought before the International Court of Justice on charges of committing the crime of genocide.

Source: Agencies