
Al-Sisi: Arab region faces unprecedented challenges, Egypt firm in support for Gaza
Speaking during a pre-dawn visit to the Egyptian Military Academy at the State Strategic Command Center in the New Administrative Capital, Al-Sisi warned of attempts to sow division among Arab peoples through the media, describing such efforts as threats to regional stability.
He reaffirmed Egypt's strong ties with Arab neighbours and stressed that Arab national security is indivisible. 'Any foreign intervention that destabilises Arab states ultimately threatens Egypt's own security,' he said.
On the situation in Gaza, the president reiterated that Egypt has been working since 2007 to prevent escalation, acknowledging that the Palestinian people bear the heaviest burden of conflict. He described the current destruction in Gaza as 'unprecedented' and confirmed that Egypt continues to push for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid deliveries, and negotiations for the release of hostages and detainees—despite what he called 'deliberate disinformation campaigns' targeting Egypt's pivotal role.
During the visit—where he attended dawn prayers and observed morning fitness drills with academy cadets—Al-Sisi stressed the importance of national awareness amid regional and global instability. He said the academy has become a beacon for shaping resilient Egyptian men and women capable of meeting the demands of the era across state institutions.
Turning to domestic affairs, Al-Sisi said Egypt currently enjoys internal stability despite overcoming serious security challenges over the past decade. He noted that the Gaza conflict has reduced revenues from the Suez Canal but stressed Egypt's commitment to continuing its economic reform agenda. He urged citizens to stand united to overcome hardships and achieve sustainable development.
Addressing the influence of social media, the president said the platforms themselves are not inherently harmful, but their impact depends on how they are used. He warned against rumours and disinformation aimed at undermining public morale.
Concluding his visit, Al-Sisi joined cadets for breakfast and an open discussion, highlighting the importance of both academic excellence and physical training. He called on future leaders to remain well-informed about Egypt's internal affairs, regional crises, and global developments.

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Al-Ahram Weekly
44 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Gaza — a famine made by Israel - World - Al-Ahram Weekly
The ongoing famine affecting the Palestinians in Gaza has been deliberately engineered by Israel through its intensified blockade of the enclave. For months, the UN and its specialised agencies and international partners have been warning of a critical food situation and imminent famine in Gaza. As senior UN officials and experts have noted, 'famine doesn't happen suddenly.' This is particularly true of Gaza where the famine is man-made, deliberately engineered by Israel through its intensified blockade of the enclave. Last Friday, US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff headed to Gaza accompanied by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to follow up on efforts to distribute humanitarian aid and to meet with residents affected by the war. The previous day, Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of an effort to revive the ceasefire talks, according to Reuters. These developments occurred amid increasing international pressure on Israel in response to the ongoing devastation and suffering caused by its military operations and use of starvation as a weapon of war. Hamas leader Izzat Al-Rishq dismissed Witkoff's visit to Gaza as a 'propaganda show'. Its sole purpose is 'to contain the mounting anger over the US-Israeli partnership in starving our people in the Gaza Strip,' he said. In Gaza, Witkoff will see only what the Israeli occupying power wants him to see, Al-Rishq pointed out. 'He views the ongoing tragedy through Israeli eyes. Certainly, he will not see the starvation machine — the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — which prepares the ground for slaughter by the Israeli war machine,' he said. Since the GHF operations began, over 800 people have been killed and 5,200 have been injured while seeking food, according to Palestinian health authorities and other reports. UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) officials and others have described GHF distribution points as 'death traps.' Soldiers interviewed by Haaretz confirmed that they routinely use live fire against aid-seekers, killing several people per day. The Witkoff visit does not signify that Israel can no longer deny its crimes or that the US will no longer help to cover them up. US President Donald Trump has described the situation in Gaza as 'terrible,' saying 'that's real starvation. I see it, and you can't fake that.' Such remarks directly contradict Netanyahu's claim that the Israeli and international media are spreading 'false pictures.' However, Trump avoided assigning blame. When asked whether he agreed with his Republican ally, Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene, who described the situation in Gaza as 'genocide,' he sidestepped the question. For many, the issue of famine in Gaza seems straightforward, especially when children are dying from starvation in large numbers. Yet, there appears to be some controversy among humanitarian workers and agencies over how to classify the situation in the Occupied Palestinian enclave. Nevertheless, according to ReliefWeb, a leading humanitarian information source on global crises, 'famine is no longer a looming threat in Gaza – it is a deadly reality.' Similarly, in a 29 July statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that 'Palestinians in Gaza are enduring a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions. This is not a warning. It is a reality unfolding before our eyes.' On 29 July, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global initiative for monitoring and classifying food insecurity and famine risk, confirmed that two famine thresholds — catastrophic food insecurity and acute malnutrition in children — have been met across much of Gaza and that the crisis is particularly severe in Gaza City. On 27 July, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that over 40 per cent of pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza are severely malnourished, putting both maternal and infant lives at risk. Also, in Gaza City, nearly one in five children under five are acutely malnourished — triple the rate of the previous month. The third famine threshold is excess mortality. According to the IPC, this has not been officially confirmed, because deaths are difficult to verify in Gaza, where most of the health system has collapsed. This throws into relief a problem that agencies encounter in identifying famine: they rely on data which may not be available. 'It's a very high bar, and the nature of the process is that if the data aren't there, you say it's not a famine,' Alex de Waal, executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University in the US, said in an interview with the US network ABC News. De Waal, an expert on the Horn of Africa who has written extensively on famines and famine-related policies, added that even when a famine is declared it carries no legal obligation. 'The word 'famine' has no meaning in law,' he said. Many experts argue that famine should be declared in Gaza because, as history has shown, by the time a famine is officially recognised, it will be too late for many. Because the process is data driven, the UN cannot officially declare a famine, even when people are already dying of starvation, as is already happening in Gaza. Scott Paul, director of peace and security at NGO Oxfam America, told ABC News that in the Somalia famine in 2012 over half the deaths occurred before a famine was declared. 'So, the importance of taking action before famine is declared can't be overstated,' he said. Following the Somali famine of 2004, UN agencies developed a five-phase classification system to ensure timely declarations of famine. The IPC initiative was developed by 21 international organisations, including the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the children's agency UNICEF, WHO, CARE International, and Oxfam. The five phases of acute food insecurity range from minimal/none (Phase 1) to catastrophe/famine (Phase 5): Phase 1 – Minimal / none: There is no acute food crisis. People can meet their basic food needs without resorting to irreversible coping strategies (like selling furniture or livestock). Less than five per cent of the population suffers from malnutrition. People have stable incomes and consume over 2,100 calories per day. Phase 2 – Stressed: People meet minimum food needs and can afford some essential non-food items without resorting to harmful coping mechanisms. Household income is irregular. Five to 10 per cent of the population suffers from acute malnutrition. People still get about 2,100 calories per day, which is barely enough to meet basic nutritional needs. Phase 3 – Crisis: Households face food consumption gaps and acute malnutrition, or they can only meet food needs by depleting essential assets. Food options are limited. Ten to 15 per cent of the population is acutely malnourished. Incomes drop sharply, and people must resort to crisis coping strategies to access required calories. Phase 4 – Emergency: Large food consumption gaps, extremely high rates of acute malnutrition, and excess mortality, or food needs are met only through the sale of remaining assets and income loss is irreversible. Some 15 to 30 per cent of the population suffer from acute malnutrition. People can only access three or fewer food groups (e.g., fruit, grains, and vegetables) and consume less than 2,100 calories per day. Phase 5 – Catastrophe/Famine: A complete lack of access to food and essential needs. 20 per cent of households face extreme food gaps and deprivation, after having exhausted all coping strategies. Hunger, death, destitution, and visible severe malnutrition are widespread. At least two out of every 10,000 people die daily from hunger or related disease. Over 30 per cent of the population suffers from acute malnutrition. Over 30 per cent of children under five suffer from wasting (a form of acute malnutrition.) Income sources are non-existent or collapsed, and people can only access one or two food groups. Caloric intake is critically insufficient. * A version of this article appears in print in the 7 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:


See - Sada Elbalad
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Israeli soldiers with mental illnesses protest outside the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv
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Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
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President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's full support for all efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in Sudan and ending the current humanitarian suffering. President El-Sisi made his remarks during a meeting on Thursday with Sudanese Transitional Prime Minister Kamil Idris. He also emphasized Egypt's consistent stance on supporting Sudan's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, according to a statement by Egypt's presidential spokesman. Both leaders discussed efforts to resolve the Sudanese crisis and achieve the aspirations of the Sudanese people for peace and stability. They also explored ways of cooperation between their countries in the field of reconstruction in Sudan. Moreover, the meeting highlighted the developments in the strategic relations between both nations, discussing ways to enhance them in various fields to restore Sudan's stability and advance mutual development and prosperity. Both sides also exchanged views on regional developments and stressed the importance of continued coordination and consultation between the two countries on all issues of mutual interest, the statement added. According to a separate cabinet statement, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly welcomed Prime Minister Idris upon his arrival at Cairo International Airport on Thursday, marking the beginning of his official visit to Egypt. The two prime ministers are expected to lead an expanded round of talks to address key bilateral issues and explore avenues for strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors. Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in war after clashes erupted between the Sudanese national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Although the army regained control of Khartoum in May, the country continues to suffer under severe humanitarian conditions, with widespread hunger afflicting the majority of the population in Africa's third-largest nation. The war, now entering its third year, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and devastated Sudan's healthcare system. The United Nations described the situation in Sudan as "the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis," with nearly 25 million Sudanese suffering dire food insecurity and over 10 million internally displaced across the country. In a joint press conference with Idris, PM Madbouly emphasized that Sudan's stability is "a goal that we must all strive to achieve, given its utmost importance in preserving peace and security across the whole African continent." He also stressed Egypt's commitment to providing all forms of support to the Sudanese people in Egypt. "Egypt opened its doors to the Sudanese not as a favour or obligation, but out of its sense of duty." Egypt has become the primary destination for the Sudanese people fleeing the horrors of the ongoing war in Sudan. In May, Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty stated that the total number of Sudanese residing in the country was 5.5 million, the largest portion of Sudanese who have fled their country since the outbreak of the war. However, some Sudanese have recently returned home after the army regained Khartoum. Nile River sustainability Madbouly also highlighted the dispute caused by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which has been of concern to upstream nations, Egypt and Sudan. He affirmed Egypt's "complete rejection of the unilateral steps pursued by Ethiopia" and the necessity of adhering to the principles of international law. "We affirm the necessity of enhancing cooperation among Nile Basin countries, based on the principles of international law, to preserve the sustainability of the Nile River — a vital resource that deserves the utmost attention from all of us," Madbouly said. "The Nile River is not an exception among other rivers; the rules and principles we advocate must also apply to it," he said, emphasizing the importance of coordination, consultation, and careful study of all the projects on the river to avoid harm to any riparian state. A joint statement issued following today's visit reaffirmed Egypt and Sudan's coordination through the Permanent Joint Technical Commission for Nile Waters (PJTC), responsible for formulating a unified position on Nile-related issues under the 1959 agreement. Construction of the GERD began in 2011, sparking tensions between upstream Ethiopia and downstream Egypt and Sudan, both of which have demanded a legally binding agreement governing the dam's filling and operation. Ethiopia has unilaterally filled the dam in five stages between 2020 and 2024 and plans to inaugurate it in September. Cairo and Khartoum, while not opposed to Ethiopia's development aims, have repeatedly criticized Addis Ababa's unilateral actions. Egypt-Sudan cooperation Both ministers also discussed enhancing investment cooperation and explored opportunities for Egyptian companies in strategically important sectors in Sudan, particularly as the country enters the reconstruction phase. In this context, they agreed to launch specialized training programmes for vocational and technical education in coordination with relevant Egyptian agencies to support Sudan's reconstruction efforts. They also commended the progress in railway linkage and electric grid interconnection projects, which open broader prospects for economic and trade cooperation. For his part, the Sudanese prime minister expressed Sudan's desire to upgrade cooperation in disease control, increase specialized Egyptian medical convoys, and implement programmes to build the capacities of Sudanese healthcare workers. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link: