(ALETIHAD)

Arab and international condemnation has intensified against statements made by Israeli officials advocating for the displacement and resettlement of Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip.

These statements have been widely criticised as incitement and irresponsible. Amidst this, Egypt has emphasised that the current priority is to halt the ceasefire in the sector.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in a meeting with a US Congress delegation on Wednesday, reinforced that stopping the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is a paramount concern.

El-Sisi categorically rejected the idea of displacing Palestinians, according to statements by Ahmed Fahmy, the Egyptian Presidency spokesman.

The delegation, comprising members from both the Democratic and Republican parties, was briefed on the need for a serious commitment to a fair and comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian issue. This includes the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in line with recognised international benchmarks.

El-Sisi stressed the immediate objectives: achieving a ceasefire, protecting civilians, and ensuring adequate humanitarian aid to mitigate the dire situation faced by the people in Gaza, aligning with relevant international resolutions.

Additionally, El-Sisi firmly opposed any solution to the Palestinian issue that involves displacing Palestinians from their lands.

In a phone conversation with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, El-Sisi reiterated the international community’s responsibility to alleviate the Palestinian people’s suffering and address their humanitarian crisis.

The Egyptian presidency’s spokesperson also highlighted Egypt’s efforts to cease the firing and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid.

Regarding Egypt-Greece relations, El-Sisi expressed his eagerness to expand bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation with Cyprus, acknowledging the strategic nature of these relationships.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis echoed the sentiment, aiming to strengthen the cooperation between the two nations, built on a foundation of historical ties. He acknowledged Egypt’s role in fostering stability in the Gaza Strip and emphasised ongoing coordination on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, in a meeting with a US Senate and House of Representatives delegation led by Senator Johnny Ernst, affirmed on Wednesday Egypt’s absolute rejection of any form of Palestinian displacement or resolution of the Palestinian issue, stating that such ideas would not lead to stability in the region.

Shoukry emphasised the need for substantial humanitarian aid in Palestine and the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2720. He also called for an end to civilian targeting, Israeli settler violence, and an urgent, comprehensive ceasefire, highlighting the role of influential international actors, including the US, in halting Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip.

In response, the United States, through State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, disavowed the statements by Israeli ministers Tzachi Hanegbi and Itamar Ben Gvir advocating Palestinian resettlement outside Gaza.

Miller said that the US had been “told repeatedly and consistently by the government of Israel, including by the Prime Minister, that such statements do not reflect the policy of the Israeli government,” emphasising the need for such statements to stop.

He stressed the US position that Gaza remains Palestinian land and the importance of maintaining this status for regional and global benefits.

Similarly, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the statements by the Israeli ministers.

France’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nicolas de Rivière, declared France’s opposition to any forced displacement in Gaza, emphasising Palestinians’ right to live safely and comfortably in their homeland.