FALCON POWERS – The Egyptian Presidency stated today, Friday, that the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a telephone call from US President Joe Biden, during which they discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip. The US President expressed his great appreciation for the intensive, tireless and ongoing Egyptian mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire and a truce agreement in the Strip. They agreed on the need to intensify international efforts to succeed in the negotiation process and achieve a breakthrough that ends the prolonged humanitarian tragedy experienced by the Palestinian people.
In this context, the two presidents discussed the dire humanitarian situation of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the lack of means of livelihood in the Strip, and the unavailability of the necessary fuel for hospitals and bakeries. In this regard, the two presidents agreed to provide quantities of humanitarian aid and fuel, to be delivered to the United Nations at the Karam Abu Salem crossing, on a temporary basis, until reaching a legal mechanism to reopen the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side.
The call also included an affirmation of the need to coordinate the various efforts to implement the two-state solution in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, as well as the two presidents’ rejection of all attempts to displace Palestinians from their lands, and their support for all means aimed at preventing the escalation and expansion of the conflict.
Earlier, a journalist on the Axios website reported in a post on the X platform that Biden is expected to ask Egypt to resume the delivery of aid trucks to the Gaza Strip through the Karam Abu Salem crossing in “Israel”.
The Palestinian Presidency said in an official statement: Based on the official contacts that took place with the brothers in the Arab Republic of Egypt, it has been agreed to introduce relief aid to our besieged people in the Gaza Strip through the Karam Abu Salem crossing on a temporary basis, until an agreement is reached on the official Palestinian operation of the Rafah crossing.
For his part, the White House said: “Biden welcomed Sisi’s commitment to allowing aid to flow from Egypt through the Karam Abu Salem crossing temporarily.”
It added: “Biden agreed to send a high-level team to Cairo next week for further discussions.”
It continued: “Biden expressed his commitment to supporting efforts to reopen the Rafah crossing with arrangements acceptable to both Egypt and Israel.”
It concluded: “Biden and Sisi consulted on new initiatives to secure the release of hostages and a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.”
