Egypt will never allow displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egyptian territory, Al-Sisi tells Biden

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

CAIRO (AA) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told his US counterpart Joe Biden late Sunday that Egypt will never allow the displacement of Palestinians from their lands to Egyptian territory.

“Egypt has not and will never allow the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egyptian territory,” al-Sisi told Biden in a phone call, according to a statement released by the Egyptian presidency.

The statement said the two leaders discussed the overall security situation in the Middle East, the latest developments in the military escalation in the Gaza Strip, and “the importance of preventing the expansion of the circle of conflict into the regional environment.”

Al-Sisi stressed "the necessity of reaching an immediate humanitarian truce and to strengthen Egyptian efforts with the United Nations and the active parties led by the United States to deliver humanitarian, medical and relief aid to the people of the Gaza Strip."

He also underscored Egypt's firm position of rejecting the policies of collective punishment and displacement.

Biden meanwhile emphasized “the United States’ rejection of the displacement of Palestinians outside their lands,” according to the statement.

Both leaders agreed on the importance of intensifying efforts to increase aid in a tangible, effective and sustainable manner and in quantities that meet the humanitarian needs of the people of the Gaza Strip.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat