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French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday called for the rapid resumption of aid deliveries to Gaza during a visit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to the city of Al Arish, a transit point for international assistance to the war-battered Palestinian territory.
The French and Egyptian leaders toured storage sites for humanitarian aid intended for Gaza, which has been a been under a complete Israeli blockade since March 2, and also visited Palestinians injured in the war who are being treated in hospitals in North Sinai city.
Mr Macron called for "the resumption of humanitarian aid as quickly as possible", saying the situation in Gaza was "intolerable".
The trip to Al Arish, about 40 kilometres from the Rafah crossing used for aid deliveries into Gaza, came at the conclusion of Mr Macron's two-day visit to Egypt.
Thousands of Egyptians gathered in the border region to protest against the war in Gaza and call for immediate humanitarian relief for Palestinians in the enclave. The demonstrators carrying Egyptian, Palestinian and French flags – as well as photographs of Mr El Sisi and Mr Macron – chanted slogans such as “Gaza is not for sale” and “No to displacement”, reflecting widespread rejection of any plans to resettle Palestinians in the Sinai.
The Rafah crossing remains the only gateway for aid into Gaza not controlled by Israel and its reopening is a key demand of protesters and international humanitarian organisations.
Local tribal leaders and members of the region’s Bedouin community took part in the demonstrations, a military official stationed at the border told The National. He said the Bedouin leaders have played a significant role in organising and welcoming the diverse groups of protesters, emphasising Egyptians’ unity on the Palestinians’ right to their homeland.
Mr Macron’s visit, which began on Sunday evening with a cultural tour of some of Cairo’s major sites, has been dominated by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israeli air strikes have continued since October 7, 2023, with two brief ceasefires that failed to take hold.
The French leader joined Mr El Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Cairo on Monday for a trilateral summit to address the escalating violence and explore pathways to peace. The three leaders issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s escalation and calling for a return to a ceasefire in the enclave.
During a joint press conference, they expressed their shared commitment to a two-state solution and condemned the displacement of Palestinians as a violation of international law.
Mr El Sisi stressed that “Egypt remains committed to peace but will not accept any attempts to undermine its national security”. Mr Macron echoed these sentiments, stating that: “France stands ready to support humanitarian efforts and will continue to advocate for a ceasefire.”
The leaders also called for the immediate establishment of humanitarian corridors to deliver aid to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom are without access to food, clean water, or medical care.
Gaza's Health Ministry on Tuesday reported that the death toll has surpassed 50,800, more than half of them women and children.
The United Nations has described the continuing siege as a “catastrophic humanitarian crisis”. Humanitarian organisations, including the UN and the International Red Cross, have warned that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse.
Hospitals are running out of essential supplies and prolonged power cuts have knocked out critical medical equipment. Aid agencies have urged the international community to pressure Israel to lift its blockade and allow the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian supplies.
