President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi meets King Felipe VI of Spain in Madrid. Photo: Egyptian presidency
During the meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain in Madrid, El-Sisi said he looked forward to Spain continuing its role in calling for full implementation of the ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees.
Furthermore, according to the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi emphasized the need to deliver humanitarian aid to the strip to end the unprecedented humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
The Egyptian president also highlighted the need to immediately launch reconstruction operations in Gaza without displacing its people and stop Israel's aggressive practices against the Palestinians in the West Bank.
Moreover, El-Sisi stressed that Egypt and Spain were committed to respecting the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state, per international legitimacy, as the only path that guarantees lasting peace in the region.
"We look forward to seeing peaceful coexistence in the Middle East and to US President Donald Trump playing the role we expect of him in achieving the long-awaited goal of establishing a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel," he said.
Middle East crises
In addition, the Egyptian president addressed the unprecedented conflicts and challenges in the Middle East, including the crises in Sudan, Libya, and Yemen.
El-Sisi stated that he looked forward to ending them through peaceful means to ensure those countries' sovereignty and their people's capabilities.
Addressing the situation in Syria, he emphasized the importance of launching a political process that includes all segments of the Syrian people and culminates in drafting a constitution and holding elections.
El-Sisi also rejected Israel's occupation of Syrian lands or other countries.
For his part, King Felipe VI expressed Spain's appreciation for Egypt's key role as a cornerstone for security and stability in the Middle East.
Egyptian-Spanish ties
During the meeting, El-Sisi said he looked forward to implementing all aspects of the strategic partnership with Spain, especially those related to the economy, trade, and investment.
Earlier, El-Sisi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez witnessed the signing of a joint declaration elevating bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.
In response, the Spanish king welcomed President El-Sisi, a dear guest, expressing his country's deep appreciation for the historical ties that unite both nations.
He hoped the visit would yield more cooperation across various areas and build on the momentum the relations between Egypt and Spain have gained over the past years.
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