Egyptian president and UN chief confer on Gaza crisis solutions

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres engaged in a crucial discussion concerning significant regional and international developments, with a notable emphasis on recent events unfolding in the Gaza Strip. The meeting, held in Cairo, delved into pressing matters concerning the ongoing crisis. President Sisi underscored the responsibility of the UN Security Council in addressing the escalating situation, expressing deep concern over the withdrawal of support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by certain nations.

He characterized such actions as tantamount to “collective punishment of innocent Palestinians,” urging for a collective effort to alleviate their plight. In outlining strategies for immediate action, President Sisi highlighted the urgent need for a ceasefire, facilitated exchanges of detainees, and the prompt delivery of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza. He emphasized the importance of coordinating with relevant UN agencies to ensure effective distribution of aid via land routes, while also considering the feasibility of air drops, especially in the northern regions of Gaza where access is severely restricted.

Both leaders acknowledged the severity of the situation and stressed the critical importance of preventing further escalation. They firmly rejected attempts at displacing Palestinians and warned against military operations in Palestinian Rafah, citing potential catastrophic consequences on the dire humanitarian crisis. The meeting between President Sisi and Secretary-General Guterres underscores the urgent need for international cooperation to address the Gaza Strip crisis. With lives at stake and humanitarian conditions deteriorating, swift and decisive action from the international community is imperative to alleviate Palestinian suffering and work towards a sustainable solution to the conflict.