Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said Israel’s failure to withdraw from five occupied points in Lebanon, despite the ceasefire agreement, has contributed to worsening the situation in the country.
El-Sisi made the remarks during a session titled “Exiting Crises and Ensuring Stability in the Middle East”, held in the French city of Évian as part of the G7 Summit. The session was attended by leaders of G7 member states, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.
Presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shenawy said President El-Sisi presented Egypt’s vision on regional developments, stressing the need for a comprehensive settlement of geopolitical crises in the Middle East to ensure regional and global peace and stability.
El-Sisi said the region had suffered for years from wars and conflicts, adding that there is no alternative to a just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution. He stressed the need to establish an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The president also called for accelerating the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.
El-Sisi expressed appreciation for Trump’s efforts, which he said led to an agreement to stop the war in Gaza and, more recently, to an agreement to halt the war with Iran. He said Egypt was ready to work with regional and international partners to reach sustainable solutions to outstanding issues.
The Egyptian president said Cairo hopes the latest agreements will open a new phase of conflict settlement and regional de-escalation. He also renewed Egypt’s rejection and condemnation of what he described as unjustified attacks on Gulf Arab states, affirming Egypt’s full solidarity with Gulf countries in preserving their security and stability.
El-Sisi stressed that the security of Arab states is an integral part of Egypt’s national security.
Addressing Gaza, El-Sisi warned that while attention was focused on the crisis with Iran, the so-called yellow line in the Gaza Strip had been expanded to cover nearly 70% of the territory. He said this effectively leaves only around 30% of the Strip for the Palestinian people, calling for this approach to stop immediately.
He also stressed the need to prevent any annexation of the West Bank.
El-Sisi said stability in the region requires all parties to adopt a responsible approach based on respect for state sovereignty, rejection of aggression and interference in internal affairs, an end to occupation, adherence to international law, preservation of national state institutions and the restriction of arms to legitimate institutions.
He also called for regional arrangements on collective security that take into account the concerns of all parties. He stressed the importance of international law in managing cross-border resources, particularly water security, energy security and the security of maritime routes.
The president also called for establishing a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, and for the full and non-selective implementation of the nuclear non-proliferation system in the region.
El-Sisi also addressed freedom of navigation, stressing the need to guarantee the freedom and safety of navigation through international maritime routes in accordance with international law. He rejected any obstruction of these routes or any attempt to change their legal status.
The session also discussed the need to ensure Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons, preserve freedom of navigation through international waterways, and address the situation in Lebanon.
Several participating leaders criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government over their actions in the region, particularly in Lebanon and against the Palestinians. They stressed the need for Israel to stop targeting Lebanon, withdraw from Lebanese territory, enable the Lebanese government to exercise authority, and consider the possibility of deploying an international peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
Participants also stressed the need to resolve the Palestinian issue, move to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, and establish a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel.
The meeting also addressed energy infrastructure, with leaders warning of the negative impact of regional developments on shipping, international trade and energy supplies. They called for continued efforts to reach solutions that guarantee the security of international maritime routes.
Several leaders praised Egypt’s role and President El-Sisi’s efforts to support stability and peace in the region. The Italian prime minister said El-Sisi’s participation in the meeting showed that peace can only be reached through agreement, similar to the peace treaty signed between Egypt and Israel. She also stressed the importance of reaching a just solution for the Palestinians.
The Canadian prime minister also praised the role played by El-Sisi and Trump in reaching an agreement to stop the war in Gaza.
At the end of the meeting, El-Sisi said the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel remains a model that can be followed. He urged leaders to seize the current opportunity to reach peace in the region.
He also called for preventing any moves that could undermine the agreements reached by Trump, whether on the Gaza ceasefire or the halt to the war with Iran.
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