Speaking during a press conference with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong at Cairo’s Al-Ittihadiya Presidential Palace, El-Sisi accused the international community of standing by as “the lives of the Palestinian people in Gaza—and possibly also in the West Bank—are now being used as political bargaining card.”
He called for an immediate ceasefire and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid.
“I appealed to the world before—European countries, and US President Trump—saying this war must stop, and aid must enter the Gaza Strip.”
Israel’s war on Gaza, now approaching two years, has included a full blockade since 2 March.
The blockade "eased" in mid-May with the establishment of the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which distributes limited flour rations to starving, aid-seeking Palestinians.
However, GHF aid distribution points have been condemned by tens of international aid agencies and humanitarian organizations as a "death trap", with Israeli soldiers killing over 1,400 aid-seeking Palestinians at their centres since its inception.
El-Sisi warned that the devastation in Gaza risks erasing the Palestinian cause entirely. He rejected accusations that Egypt is contributing to the blockade:
“Before the war, 600–700 trucks of food and basic necessities used to enter Gaza daily to support 2.3 million Palestinians. Imagine reducing that number to zero over the past 21 months. The current situation in Gaza stems from this—not from Egypt abandoning its role or participating in the siege.”
He described claims of Egyptian complicity as “baseless” and “extremely strange,” stressing that more than 70 percent of the aid that has entered Gaza has come from Egypt.
Rafah and aid delays
El-Sisi clarified that the Rafah border crossing has not been closed by Egypt at any point. Instead, the obstruction lies with Israel, which controls the Palestinian side:
“Gaza has five border crossings with the outside world—one is Rafah, the rest are with Israel. The Rafah crossing has not been closed during this war, nor before. It was detroyed four times since the start of the war and we repaired it each time.”
He added that over 5,000 aid trucks are currently stationed on Egyptian soil, ready to move into Gaza. The latest convoy left Tuesday morning, part of Egypt’s ongoing relief operation including both ground deliveries and airdrops.
“We’re seeing a systematic genocide aimed at erasing the Palestinian cause. Egypt remains committed to delivering aid—and to stopping the war.”
On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday plans to expand military operations in Gaza, reaffirming goals to eliminate Hamas, retrieve captives, and prevent future threats to Tel Aviv.
The statement came hours after 600 former Israeli security officials publicly urged the US to pressure Israel to end the war.
On Tuesday, Israel announced it would partially reopen private sector trade with Gaza to reduce dependence on aid.
Firm rejection of displacement
El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s long-standing refusal to allow the forced displacement of Palestinians into Sinai or elsewhere: “Egypt will remain a gateway for aid—not for displacement. That has been our position since 8 October, and it has not changed.”
“Our stance is clear—we are ready to deliver aid at any time, but we are not ready to accept or facilitate the displacement of Palestinians from their land. Some parties aim to distract from the real cause of the current tragic situation in Palestine. I warn—again—against the continuation of this situation,” he added.
He warned against attempts to shift attention from the war’s underlying causes and commended Vietnam’s consistent support for Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution.
“I appreciate Vietnam’s firm stance in supporting the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state, and our shared position rejecting the displacement of Palestinians and calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the start of reconstruction, and reaching a comprehensive and lasting solution based on international legitimacy.”
Diplomatic role and regional context
Egypt continues to work with Qatar and the US to halt the war, secure hostage releases, and facilitate aid. El-Sisi emphasized that this marks the fifth Gaza war in which Egypt has played an active mediating role.
“Egypt is playing a major role in trying to stop the war in Gaza and facilitate the entry of aid into the Strip,” he said. “For the past twenty years, Egypt has made efforts to prevent escalation in Gaza.”
“History will long reflect on this moment and will hold many countries accountable for their stance on the Gaza war. The global human conscience will not remain silent forever,” El-Sisi continued.
Egypt-Vietnam relations upgraded
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi speaks with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong during their meeting at Cairo’s Al-Ittihadiya Presidential Palace. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Presidential spokesman Facebook page.
During the visit, Egypt and Vietnam agreed to elevate their ties to a comprehensive partnership, signing two memoranda of understanding on local and economic development. The agreement aims to expand cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, digital transformation, and renewable energy.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi recieve Vietnamese President Luong Cuong during the welcoming ceremony at Cairo’s Al-Ittihadiya Presidential Palace. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Presidential spokesman Facebook page.
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