Egypt's president discusses situation in Gaza with Malaysian premier, US delegation

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met separately Monday with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and a delegation from the US Senate, stressing the need for continuous humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Sisi welcomed Ibrahim at the Federal Palace in the capital Cairo, according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency.

It said the two sides "stressed the need to continue to provide safe and urgent access to humanitarian aid to the people of the (Gaza) Strip."

"The two leaders also expressed concern regarding the possible expansion of the violence to the region while reiterating (their) categorical rejection of the liquidation of the Palestinian issue through the idea of forced displacement of the people of Gaza," it added."There was agreement between Egypt and Malaysia regarding the necessity of coordinating efforts to stop the escalation and achieve calm, as well as providing the necessary protection for Palestinian civilians."

"They confirmed that the only way out of the current crisis is for the international community to exert concerted efforts to find a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution and in accordance with the terms of reference of international legitimacy in a manner that preserves the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," it said.

Ibrahim arrived in Egypt on Monday evening, on a two-day visit to the capital.

In a related context, Sisi received a delegation from the Democratic and Republican parties of the US Senate headed by Senator Lindsey Graham, according to a second statement by the Egyptian presidency, which did not specify the duration of its visit.

The statement said "there was agreement on the gravity of the current situation (and) the necessity of working to prevent the expansion of the ongoing conflict."

It said the parties discussed and agreed on "the necessity of protecting civilians, preventing their targeting, and providing humanitarian and relief aid to the Gaza Strip" as well as "reviving the peace process in the region."

In turn, Sisi stressed during the meeting "Egypt’s firm position that rejects the targeting of all peaceful civilians as well as rejecting policies of collective punishment and forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands" and "the need to stop the current escalation."

Earlier in the day, the entry of a third batch of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip began through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt after two batches of humanitarian aid arrived in the Strip within the past two days.

The first batch included 20 trucks, while the second included 14 trucks, which came after around two weeks of a total blockade imposed by Israel that included cutting off electricity, water, medicine, food and fuel.