Egypt discusses ceasefires in Gaza, Lebanon with CIA chief in Cairo
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The Egyptian president highlights the importance of de-escalation in both Lebanon and Gaza, stressing the need for humanitarian aid and the "two-state solution" for Palestine.
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi gestures during a joint news conference in Cairo, Egypt, on October 25, 2023. (AP)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hosted the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns in Cairo on Thursday to discuss regional developments, including de-escalation in the Gaza Strip and the situation in Lebanon.
The head of the General Intelligence Services in Egypt, Hassan Rashad, also attended the meeting.
El-Sisi and Burns explored ways to facilitate negotiations regarding Gaza to achieve a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement, as well as the dire need for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access, which is the country's top priority given the exceedingly deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Strip.
President el-Sisi also underscored the key role UNRWA plays in providing relief for the people of Gaza and the importance of ensuring its operations are not blocked. He emphasized the necessity of implementing the "two-state solution" as a means to foster peace and security in the region.
Additionally, el-Sisi stressed the urgency of establishing a ceasefire in Lebanon to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its citizens, cautioning about the risks associated with ongoing regional tensions and their serious consequences for all peoples in the region.
On October 27, Egypt proposed an initial "two-day ceasefire" in Gaza to facilitate the exchange of four Israeli captives held by Hamas for a number of Palestinian detainees.
El-Sisi announced the ceasefire talk, as efforts to resolve the ongoing year-long war on Gaza, resumed in Qatar, with the participation of the CIA and "Israel's" Mossad directors. During a press conference in Cairo alongside Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, el-Sisi emphasized that talks should restart within 10 days of implementing the temporary ceasefire to secure "a complete ceasefire and the entry of aid."
El-Sisi also said that "our brothers in the Strip face a very harsh siege" that has put them "on the brink of famine," adding that "it is very important that aid enters as soon as possible" to alleviate the dire humanitarian needs.
