French President Emmanuel Macron has called for another ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages detained by Hamas during a meeting in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
Macron called renewed Israeli attacks on the enclave after the collapse of the ceasefire in mid-March a “dramatic setback for the civilian population.”
“Negotiations must resume without any delay and in a constructive manner and I want to welcome the tireless efforts from Egypt for the ceasefire and release of the hostages,” Macron said.
Egypt, along with the United States and Qatar, were the major negotiators of the previous ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hamas, which came into force on 19 January.
Macron’s demands were also echoed by el-Sissi, who said that “achieving sustainable peace and stability in the Middle East will remain a far-fetched issue as long as the Palestinian case is not settled fairly.”
“The Palestinian people are still facing the horrors of devastating wars that destroys its structure and deprive its coming generations from their right even in having hope in a more safe and stable future,” he said.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in Syria, emphasising the importance “of preserving Syria’s unity” in its transitional political period, as well as “restoring the normal flow of ships in the Egyptian Suez canal,” following targeted attacks on ships by Israel due to the continuation of the war in Gaza.
Macron was in Egypt on Monday to meet with el-Sissi and later with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, close Western allies also calling for a ceasefire.
Macron’s visit, his second to Cairo since the war in Gaza erupted, comes at a critical time for the Middle East, after Israel last month reimposed a blockade in Gaza and resumed its fighting against Hamas, shattering the fragile truce.
The war, now in its 18th month, started when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on 7 October 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage.
The group still holds 59 captives, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
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