Egypt: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron emphasized, in a telephone call today, the criticality of resolving crises through peaceful means and ramping up regional and global efforts to contain escalation and spare the Middle East from further tension and instability. The sides agreed, during the call, to continue close consultations between the two countries regarding regional issues and ongoing crises, the Egyptian Presidency reported in a statement.
According to Qatar News Agency, El-Sisi expressed deep concerns over the military escalation in the region, particularly highlighting the ongoing war in Iran and its potential repercussions, including rising energy prices and disruptions in supply chains and both air and maritime traffic. El-Sisi criticized Iran's targeting of Arab nations at a time when Gulf nations and other regional parties have been advocating for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions to the Iranian nuclear issues. He warned of the risks of the conflict spilling over, which could lead the entire region into chaos.
Macron acknowledged Egypt's efforts to manage the ongoing crisis and reiterated France's commitment to quickly restore peace and stability in the region. Regarding developments in the Gaza Strip, both leaders stressed the importance of fully implementing the ceasefire agreement and ensuring the unobstructed flow of humanitarian aid. They also emphasized the significance of initiating early recovery and reconstruction of the area, while firmly rejecting any attempts to displace Palestinians from their lands.
On the situation in Lebanon, the two presidents highlighted the need for concerted efforts, especially among the Quartet countries, to prevent further escalation and halt attacks on Lebanon and its infrastructure. They underscored the importance of continued support for the Lebanese State and its institutions, enabling the Lebanese military to fulfill its responsibilities in light of recent decisions to ensure the state maintains a monopoly on the legitimate use of weapons.