CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met in Cairo on Thursday, where they agreed on the urgent necessity of a ceasefire in Gaza amid ongoing Israeli hostilities.
Following their meeting, both leaders jointly addressed a press conference in which they highlighted the need to halt Israeli actions, release captives, and facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza to safeguard civilian lives.
“I agreed with President Lula on the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of captives and prisoners, and the entry of the largest possible amount of aid into the strip to preserve the lives of civilians,” Sisi said in a press conference with Lula.
Sisi and Lula underscored the significance of laying the groundwork for the post-war period to facilitate the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Sisi praised Brazil for its recognition of the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
While condemning Hamas’s attacks on Israel, President Lula said that Hamas’s action does not justify Israeli attacks that left thousands of women and children dead.
Lula advocated for international intervention to resolve the Gaza conflict and called for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The leaders discussed elevating bilateral relations to a strategic partnership and signed agreements in various sectors, including science, agriculture, and aviation.
Additionally, Lula extended an invitation for President Sisi to attend the G20 Summit, seeking Egypt’s support for global initiatives against hunger, poverty, and climate change.
Lula also expressed Brazil’s commitment to strengthening trade relations with Egypt and highlighted Brazil’s support for Egypt’s proposal for a weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
