Egypt Backs Saudi French Initiative for International Conference on Palestine

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has officially announced Egypt’s support for the joint French-Saudi initiative to hold a high-level international conference focused on achieving a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian cause. The conference is scheduled to take place in New York on July 28 and 29, 2025, under the auspices of the United Nations.

During a phone call on Saturday with French President Emmanuel Macron, President Sisi expressed Egypt’s strong backing of the upcoming initiative and welcomed France’s recent announcement regarding its intention to formally recognize the State of Palestine during the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly in September.

Sisi praised the decision, describing it as a step aligned with France’s longstanding efforts to implement the two-state solution, which Egypt also views as the only viable path to ensuring peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis, and securing lasting peace and stability in the region.

Presidential spokesperson Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said the leaders also discussed Egypt’s intensive mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as facilitate the exchange of hostages and detainees, and to ensure the adequate delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

President Macron reiterated France’s full support for Egypt’s diplomatic efforts and affirmed the need for a comprehensive and just resolution to the Palestinian issue based on international law and UN resolutions.

The France-Saudi Arabia conference, to be held later this month, aims to revive momentum toward a two-state solution and promote broader international recognition of Palestinian statehood. France has stated its intent to gather international partners around the initiative to build consensus for concrete action.

President Macron confirmed in a recent letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that France will formally recognize the State of Palestine during the UN General Assembly in September 2025, and that it will mobilize international partners to support the Saudi-French roadmap.

The Israeli government swiftly condemned the French announcement, calling it a reward for terrorism and a disgrace to France’s record, in reference to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.