Focus

EU president says Egypt needs support to handle fleeing Gazans

20 Oct 2023 09:03am
Staff members unload aid for the Palestinian Gaza Strip from an Emirates cargo plane on the tarmac of Egypt's el-Arish airport in the north Sinai Peninsula on October 19, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. - Photo by AFP
Staff members unload aid for the Palestinian Gaza Strip from an Emirates cargo plane on the tarmac of Egypt's el-Arish airport in the north Sinai Peninsula on October 19, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. - Photo by AFP
A
A
A

WASHINGTON - European Council President Charles Michel will visit Egypt on Saturday and call for support for a country that may have to take in tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing war-torn Gaza, he said Thursday.

"Egypt needs support, so let's support Egypt," said Michel, who is in Washington to attend a summit with US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday.

He added that he would meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his weekend visit.

In addition, Michel will attend at al-Sisi's invitation a "conference on the current developments in the Middle East, Palestine and the Peace Process," said his spokesperson, Ecaterina Casinge.

Accompanying Michel to Egypt will be Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, Casinge said.

Von der Leyen announced earlier in the week in Tirana that the European Union would open a humanitarian air corridor to the Gaza Strip.

Michel gave strong support to President Biden, who visited Israel on Wednesday and said he had obtained permission from Cairo to let some 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid through, and reiterated the EU's support for Israel's right "to defend itself" in accordance with international law.

The Israeli army and the Hamas fighters movement in Gaza are blaming each other for the deadly strike on Gaza's Ahli Arab hospital.

Long-awaited humanitarian aid for Palestinians stranded in the Gaza Strip is set to start flowing on Friday, Egyptian media reported on Thursday, on the 13th day of a deadly war between Israel and Hamas.

The European leader went on to stress the "challenge" posed by the potential influx of refugees into Egypt, and said he expected an "important exchange of information" on the subject on Friday at an US-EU summit in Washington.

Asked whether Europe was speaking with one voice, he replied: "The answer is yes," citing the unified position expressed by European leaders during a videoconference on Tuesday evening. - AFP

Charles Michel
EU
European Council
Israel
Gaza
Egypt
More Like This
Some of the appellants at the Federal Court, today, for the mention of their appeal against the High Court's decision over their conviction and three-year prison sentence for injuring UPNM Cadet Officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain seven years ago. - Photo by Bernama
Some of the appellants at the Federal Court, today, for the mention of their appeal against the High Court's decision over their conviction and three-year prison sentence for injuring UPNM Cadet Officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain seven years ago. - Photo by Bernama
World Five former UPNM students withdraw appeal over conviction, jail sentence for injuring Zulfarhan
The five appellants withdrew the appeal as it was now academic and no longer relevant as they have completed their three-year prison sentence, which was served in 2021.
Screenshots from a video of Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations (UN) Datuk Ahmad Faisal Muhamad's speech at the 51st plenary meeting of the Tenth Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly. - Photo: Youtube
Screenshots from a video of Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations (UN) Datuk Ahmad Faisal Muhamad's speech at the 51st plenary meeting of the Tenth Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly. - Photo: Youtube
World Malaysia's UN representative urges member states to resist pressure threatening Middle East peace
By SHARIFAH SHAHIRAH
14 May 2024 12:27pm
SHAH ALAM - Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations (UN) Datuk Ahmad Faisal Muhamad said all member states should not succumb to the pressure exerted by those who seek to undermine peace in the Middle East. He called on all member states to be united and support the effors...
Graffiti reading "free Gaza" is painted on a map next to an encampment protesting the University of Washington's ties to Israel and Boeing at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, May 12, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Graffiti reading "free Gaza" is painted on a map next to an encampment protesting the University of Washington's ties to Israel and Boeing at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, May 12, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
World Celebrities face digital backlash over Gaza silence
Taylor Swift, Drake and many more have become targets of the "Block Out 2024" movement.
Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before departing Manhattan criminal court on May 13, 2024, in New York where he is on trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs. - Photo by AFP
Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before departing Manhattan criminal court on May 13, 2024, in New York where he is on trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs. - Photo by AFP
World 'Do it': Former fixer Cohen testifies he lied for Trump
Michael Cohen, once Trump's attack dog, gave calm, unemotional evidence against him, occasionally glancing at Trump who sat slouched in his chair at the defendant's table.