Egypt’s el-Sissi, French President Macron discuss Gaza, need for hostage deal

By ToI Staff 18 February 2024, 4:37 am

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi told French President Emmanuel Macron in a call earlier of Cairo’s “categorical rejection of the displacement of Palestinians to Egypt in any shape or form,” noting that the position “enjoys full international consensus.”

During the call, Macron affirmed France’s support for the Egyptian stance, according to a statement released by the Egyptian Presidency and carried by the state’s information service.

The two leaders agreed that progress must be made on a deal that leads to “a stop to the bloodshed and alleviation of the current human suffering in the Gaza Strip,” and discussed efforts to secure a ceasefire, a hostage release deal, and an increased delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.