El-Sisi emphasized the importance of avoiding the expansion of conflict and escalation in the region, according to a statement by the Egyptian Presidency.

El-Sisi also reviewed Egypt’s efforts towards achieving a ceasefire, delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, receiving injured Palestinians, and evacuating foreign nationals.

The French Defence Minister also held talks in a separate meeting with his Egyptian counterpart General Mohamed Zaki, Lieutenant-General Osama Asker, the chief of staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces, and other commanders of the Egyptian Army.

Egypt is the first stop of Lecornu’s regional tour that involves Gulf countries and Israel and aims to support the relief aid initiative announced by French President Emmanuel Macron last week in Paris.

The initiative involves collecting, inspecting, and storing humanitarian aid in Cyprus, its later transfer by ship, likely from Larnaca port, and ultimately its offloading and distribution in Gaza.

“With President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and my counterpart Mohamed Zaki, we continued our joint work to provide emergency assistance to the inhabitants of Gaza, in both humanitarian and health terms.” Lecornu said on his official “X” account on Wednesday.

He added that the French army will continue to play their part in the emergency assistance.