Egyptian authorities have reiterated their opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians, stressing that it is a “red line” they will not allow to be crossed.
On Monday, Egyptian Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki warned that the current escalation in the Gaza Strip was aimed at “imposing a reality that will lead to the destruction of the Palestinian cause.”
In a speech at the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX 2023) in Cairo, Zaki said the world must eventually have “a force that will defend it”.
Earlier, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reiterated that his country did not accept the “forced displacement” of Gaza residents. He stressed that Egypt would not allow the issue to be resolved at the expense of neighbouring countries. Last Saturday, Sisi met with US Vice President Kamala Harris in Dubai on the sidelines of the UN Climate Conference (COP28). The US and Egypt have categorically rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians, forcible transfer from Gaza or the West Bank, and the blockade imposed on Gaza.
Sisi visited EDEX 2023 exhibition for defence and military industries on Monday. Minister Zaki stressed that the exhibition is an important global event under the patronage of the president, coinciding with the current conflicts and wars that threaten regional and international security and stability. He said Egypt remains keen to join forces and put an end to conflicts in a bid to establish peace.
The minister also noted that the armed forces continue to protect the security and stability of the country and will suppress any aggression against Egypt.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as Egypt’s representative to the EU and NATO, Badr Abdel-Aty, reiterated that Egypt categorically rejects the forcible transfer of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip into or out of its territory, saying that this is a red line that will not be crossed.
Abdel-Aty told the Global Alliance Against Human Trafficking that Egypt has adopted a comprehensive approach to dealing with the migrant issue, which includes security, development, economic and social aspects to address the root causes.
The conference is organised by the European Commission to strengthen international cooperation in combating the smuggling of migrants. The Ambassador noted that his country hosts about nine million refugees who have full access to all social services on an equal footing with Egyptians.
Egypt has been hosting hundreds of thousands of Sudanese since the recent crisis began.
Last month, Egypt criticised Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for supporting the call by two Knesset lawmakers, Danny Danon (Likud) and Ram Ben-Barak (Yesh Atid), who wrote in a Wall Street Journal editorial that Western countries should accept the families of Gazans who have expressed a desire to resettle.
