In his speech to the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh, El-Sisi stated that Egypt has consistently and unequivocally denounced the targeting of civilians on both side, as well as all violations of international law.

“Collective punishment against the people of Gaza, involving killing, sieges, and forced displacement, are unacceptable and cannot be justified as self-defence or under any other pretext,” the Egyptian president said.

El-Sisi said the international community has a responsibility to halt the bloodshed and address the root causes of the conflict.

“The international community, particularly the UN Security Council, bears a direct responsibility to take decisive and concerted action to achieve [a ceasefire and a halt to displacement],” El-Sisi said.

El-Sisi also called for safe, rapid, and sustainable access to humanitarian aid, with Israel bearing its international responsibility as the occupying force.

He emphasized the importance of reaching a solution based on the two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state on borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“Let the entire world unite, governments and peoples alike, to enforce a fair solution to the Palestinian issue and end the occupation in a manner befitting our humanity and in line with our call for the values of justice, freedom, and respect for all rights, not just some,” he said.

This is the only way to achieve security for all the people of the region, who deserve to live in peace and safety without fear or intimidation, he added.

The Egyptian president demanded an international investigation into all violations of international law.

“Egypt has repeatedly warned against unilateral policies and now warns that failure to stop the war in Gaza threatens an expansion of military confrontation in the region,” he said.

Regardless of attempts at restraint, the duration and unprecedented severity of the attacks are capable of altering the equation and its calculations overnight, he explained.