El-Sisi commends UK stance on Palestinian statehood in phone call with Starmer - Foreign Affairs

Al-Ahram Weekly

a day ago

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi commended PM Keir Starmer for his recent announcements that the UK would recognize the State of Palestine in September if Israel does not immediately agree to ending the war and blockade in Gaza.
During a phone call on Thursday with the UK PM, the Egyptian president described the recent UK step as a "positive impetus" toward securing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
This includes their right to an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders, El-Sisi added, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian presidency.
Furthermore, the Egyptian president reiterated that a just and comprehensive two-state solution is the only path to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
President El-Sisi also shared with PM Starmer Egypt's vision for de-escalating the conflict in the Gaza Strip, the statement noted.
Additionally, he highlighted Egypt's continuous efforts to secure a ceasefire, expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid, and facilitate the release of captives and detainees.
President El-Sisi also urged that the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip begin as soon as possible and reaffirmed Egypt's firm rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced that Egypt is committed to organizing an international conference for the reconstruction of Gaza once the Israeli war on the Palestinian Strip ends.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Starmer announced the UK will formally recognize the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various "substantive steps" in Gaza, including agreeing to a ceasefire.
Starmer told his ministers that London will formally recognize a Palestinian state in September if the Israeli government has not taken the steps demanded, his office said.
They include ending "the appalling situation in Gaza", reaching a ceasefire, making "clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank", and committing "to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution," it added.
"I have always said that we will recognize a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution," Starmer later said in a Downing Street address.
"With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act."
The UK is one of several Western countries that have recently indicated their intent to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Last week, France announced its intent to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September. Canada and Malta made a similar announcement on Thursday.
This shift comes amid growing global outrage over the images of Palestinians dying of hunger from starvation due to a five-month-long Israeli blockade on all food, water, and medicine to the strip.
It also comes amid increasing international pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza and cease its settlement expansion in the West Bank.
To date, 147 of the 193 UN member states—roughly three-quarters—have recognised the Palestinian state.
Since the outbreak of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, several countries such as Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia.
Since 2012, Palestine has been granted non-member observer status at the UN There have even been calls for Palestine to be granted full membership to the UN, a move that would grant it the right to vote and fully participate.
In its genocidal war in Gaza since October 2023, Israel has killed 60,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 150,000, mostly women and children.
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