Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has strongly rejected allegations that Egypt is contributing to the blockade of Gaza, asserting that more than 5,000 aid trucks are currently waiting on Egyptian soil, ready to enter the Palestinian territory. His remarks came during a joint press conference with Vietnamese President Võ Văn Thưởng at Cairo’s Ittihadiya Palace.
“There are claims that Egypt is participating in the starvation of the Palestinian people this is completely false and, frankly, absurd,” President Sisi stated. “It is intellectual bankruptcy to accuse Egypt of complicity in a blockade when we are among the few trying to stop the war and deliver aid.”
According to the Egyptian president, the trucks loaded with food, medicine, and humanitarian supplies—have been stationed near the Rafah border crossing for months. He explained that while Egypt controls its side of the crossing, the Israeli military maintains control on the Palestinian side, effectively blocking aid from reaching Gaza.
“Let me be clear: we are not the obstacle,” Sisi said. “We are prepared to send in not just thousands of trucks, but many times more. But we cannot force our way across a border that is under foreign control.”
A Drastic Decline in Aid Access
Prior to the escalation of the conflict, Sisi noted that between 600 and 700 aid trucks were crossing daily from Egypt into Gaza. Today, that number has dropped to zero.
“This dramatic reduction in aid deliveries has nothing to do with Egypt’s willingness or capacity,” he said. “It is the result of external constraints. And while Gaza suffers, there are those who irresponsibly point fingers at Egypt.”
Over the past 21 months, Egypt has delivered more than 70 percent of the total aid that has reached the Gaza Strip, either directly or in coordination with international partners. The president emphasized that Egypt’s role has consistently been one of support and relief not obstruction.
A History of Mediation and Warnings Ignored
President Sisi recalled Egypt’s long-standing role as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying this marks the fifth war in which Egypt has intervened diplomatically to try to de-escalate the situation.
“For nearly two decades, Egypt has warned that military escalation in Gaza would have catastrophic consequences,” he said. “Unfortunately, those warnings were ignored, and now we are witnessing the tragic results.”
Appeal to the International Community
Sisi renewed his appeal to the international community to take decisive action to halt the war and allow unrestricted humanitarian access. He specifically called on global leaders, including European governments and U.S. officials, to pressure Israel to open the crossings.
“I have appealed before to Europe, to the world, even directly to former President Trump,” President Sisi said. “And I say it again now: this war must stop, and the people of Gaza must be allowed to receive aid. I will continue to make this appeal for as long as it takes.”
He warned that the international community’s failure to act would not be forgotten.
“History will judge these moments,” he said. “The world’s conscience cannot remain silent while an entire population is pushed to the brink of annihilation.”
A Call for Urgent Action
Describing the situation in Gaza as a “systematic campaign of extermination” and a direct attempt to erase the Palestinian cause, Sisi stressed that Egypt remains committed to its humanitarian duty.
“We have not abandoned our role. We are ready to deliver all the aid we have and more,” he concluded. “The people of Gaza are our brothers and sisters. We will continue to fight for their survival, even if others turn away.”
