Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, French President Emmanuel Macron and Jordan’s King Abdullah II held a trilateral summit in Cairo on Monday amid escalating tensions in the region, calling for an end to Israel’s renewed offensive in the Gaza Strip and the urgent restoration of a ceasefire.
The meeting came as the death toll in Gaza surpassed 50,000 following the resumption of Israeli strikes last month despite a January truce brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. In a joint call to the international community, the three leaders urged the resumption of humanitarian aid and emphasized the need for a political solution that would lead to an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital, a statement by the Jordanian Royal Court read.
Sisi and King Abdullah praised France’s support for Palestinians' rights and its rejection of their forced displacement. Macron commended Jordan and Egypt’s efforts and reiterated France’s readiness to help reach a lasting political settlement.
The war, which began Oct. 7, 2023, following Hamas’ assault in southern Israel, has killed more than 50,700 people in Gaza and injured over 115,000 others, according to health authorities in the enclave. Hamas killed around 1,200 people and took over 240 others hostage during its cross-border attack.
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