Egypt has formally reiterated its firm opposition to Israeli efforts to annex occupied Palestinian territories and displace the Palestinian population. Speaking on behalf of President Abdel Fattah el Sisi at a summit on Palestine and the two-state solution, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated that regional peace is impossible without a political settlement that brings an end to the occupation.
The summit, which took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, was co-chaired by the UK, France, and Canada. Prime Minister Madbouly expressed gratitude to these nations for hosting the event at an “important time.” He further welcomed the measures taken by the UK, France, Canada, and other countries to challenge illegal settlement activities within the occupied territories.
Madbouly warned that the two-state solution faces unprecedented challenges, specifically citing illegal Israeli settlement expansion, land seizures, and increasing settler violence in the occupied West Bank. He asserted that the desired political settlement must lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Regarding the situation in Gaza, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to support the Palestinian Authority and preserve its capacity to carry out its responsibilities, including restoring its role in Gaza to maintain the unity of Palestinian territory and institutions. He called for the “full implementation” of the peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, as well as adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 2803. This includes respecting the ceasefire, facilitating humanitarian aid, ensuring an Israeli withdrawal, and restricting weapons to authorized bodies.
Furthermore, Egypt advocated for the deployment of an international stabilization force and the activation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza to oversee reconstruction efforts. According to the Egyptian statement, while Hamas accepted the roadmap announced by Trump’s “Board of Peace” on July 31, Israel has not agreed to the deployment of an international force or allowed the Cairo-based National Committee to enter Gaza. Despite these challenges, Madbouly affirmed that Egypt will continue working with international partners to protect the two-state solution and achieve regional peace.
