This came in a televised speech by the Egyptian president on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the liberation of Sinai, which was reclaimed from Israeli occupation on April 25, 1982, following international arbitration that Egypt entered after the October 1973 military victory.
In his speech, Sisi said, "On this glorious day, we celebrate the anniversary of the liberation of Sinai, which has long been a target for greedy individuals and has remained throughout history a symbol of steadfastness and sacrifice." He emphasized that defending the land is a firm principle in the Egyptian national faith, one that is not subject to compromise or surrender.
The Egyptian president stressed that what is happening in the Gaza Strip is a "shameful humanitarian tragedy," noting that Egypt's position has been clear from the outset, calling for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and detainees, ensuring the entry of humanitarian aid, and rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land.
He also stressed that the reconstruction of Gaza "must be in accordance with the Arab-Islamic plan, without any form of displacement, to preserve the legitimate rights of the Palestinians and safeguard Egypt's national security," adding that "a just peace will only be achieved with the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions."
Sisi pointed out that the US-brokered peace agreement between Egypt and Israel more than four decades ago represents a model that can be built upon to end conflicts, calling on the international community, led by the United States and President Trump, to "play the expected role in achieving a just peace."
On March 4, an emergency Arab summit adopted an Egyptian plan to rebuild Gaza over five years, at an estimated cost of $53 billion, without displacing Palestinians.
However, the plan was rejected by Israel and the United States, which support a proposal to relocate Gaza's residents to neighboring countries. This proposal was also rejected by Egypt, Jordan, other Arab countries, and regional and international organizations.
Sisi's speech comes ahead of the US president's anticipated visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE next May, and amid the ongoing Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, which has left more than 168,000 dead and wounded, and more than 11,000 missing, the majority of whom are women and children.