“Even if Israel succeeds in reaching normalisation agreements with all Arab countries, a lasting, just, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East will remain out of reach unless a Palestinian state is established as per international legitimacy resolutions," El-Sisi said.
President El-Sisi also acknowledged US President Donald Trump for brokering a Gaza ceasefire in January 2025, though the deal ultimately collapsed due to renewed Israeli attacks, undermining the region's stability.
In this context, El-Sisi called upon Trump "to exert all necessary efforts and pressures to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, thereby paving the way for a serious political process—in which he acts as a mediator and sponsor—that leads to a final settlement achieving lasting peace, akin to the historic role the United States played in achieving peace between Egypt and Israel in the 1970s."
El-Sisi said the Palestinian cause was going through "one of its most perilous and critical phases."
He asserted that the Palestinians have continued to endure over a year and a half of "systematic crimes and brutal practices, aimed at obliterating and annihilating them, effectively ending their presence in the Gaza Strip."
The president described how the Gaza Strip has been devastated to the point of becoming uninhabitable—an apparent attempt, he said, to forcibly displace its population under the horrors of war.
"The Israeli war machine has left no stone unturned, showing no mercy to children or the elderly, employing starvation and denial of healthcare as weapons, and adopting destruction as a strategy," he said.
He added that nearly two million Palestinians have been displaced inside Gaza in blatant defiance of international law.
"In the West Bank, the occupation's machinery continues its repressive policies of killing and destruction. Despite this, the Palestinian people remain steadfast, resilient, and committed to their legitimate right to their land and homeland," El-Sisi continued.
He called on the international community, particularly the US, to take decisive steps to end what he described as a "worsening humanitarian catastrophe."
Egypt leads ceasefire diplomacy
During his speech, El-Sisi also highlighted Egypt's intensified political efforts to halt the Palestinian bloodshed since October 2023. He stressed that Cairo has worked "tirelessly to achieve a ceasefire and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid."
Moreover, the president noted that Egypt, as a mediator, alongside Qatar and the US, continues to push for a ceasefire. He highlighted that these efforts resulted in the recent release of an American-Israeli soldier from Gaza.
Furthermore, El-Sisi said Cairo convened the Extraordinary Arab summit on 4 March 2025. He noted that the participants in the summit had affirmed the importance of ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, as the only path to ending regional violence and achieving stability.
The president added that the summit also reaffirmed Arab rejection of forced displacement and endorsed a Gaza reconstruction plan that does not involve relocating residents—a proposal that Arab, Muslim, and several countries worldwide strongly backed.
In addition, El-Sisi highlighted Egypt's intention to host an international conference on early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza once Israeli aggression ends.
Further "existential challenges"
El Sisi emphasised the urgent need for unity in the face of what he described as "complex challenges and unprecedented circumstances in the region." He noted that not only governments but also people should unite and collaborate with unwavering resolve to protect national security and the rights and resources of the region's population.
Similarly, the president warned that Sudan is at a critical crossroads and its unity and stability are at risk. He called for urgent action to secure a ceasefire, deliver humanitarian aid, protect territorial integrity, and reject parallel governments.
On Syria, El-Sisi said that lifting the US sanctions should benefit the Syrian people and pave the way for ensuring an inclusive transitional phase, preserving the country's unity, and combating terrorism. He also called for Israel's withdrawal from the occupied Golan Heights and all Syrian territories.
Speaking of Lebanon, the president said that lasting stability depends on fully implementing the cessation of hostilities agreement and UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to ensure Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon and empower the Lebanese army to fulfil its mandate.
As for Libya, El-Sisi reiterated Egypt's commitment to a political reconciliation based on agreed frameworks. He voiced support for a Libyan-led process that leads to simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections and the withdrawal of all foreign forces and militias to preserve Libya's sovereignty.
Furthermore, the president said the prolonged war in Yemen must end through a comprehensive settlement that addresses the humanitarian crisis, restores Yemen's unity and legitimate institutions, secures normal navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea, and fosters long-term stability.
Regarding Somalia, El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's categorical rejection of any attempts to undermine Somalia's sovereignty. He also urged regional and international partners to support the Somali government in maintaining security and stability.
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