In a press conference held in Cairo on November 25, 2023, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed openness to the idea of a future Palestinian state being demilitarized. The President suggested the possibility of having a temporary international security presence to ensure security guarantees for both the emerging Palestinian state and Israel.
During the joint news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, President Sisi stated, “We said that we are ready for this state to be demilitarized, and there can also be guarantees of forces, whether NATO forces, United Nations forces, or Arab or American forces, until we achieve security for both states, the nascent Palestinian state and the Israeli state.”
He reiterated the importance of a political resolution based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as the capital of the Palestinian state. However, President Sisi acknowledged that reaching a political resolution has remained elusive.
Arab nations have been resistant to the idea of an Arab force providing security in the Gaza Strip following the conclusion of Israel’s military operation against Hamas. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi emphasized the reluctance of Arab states to enter a Gaza Strip that could be severely affected by Israel’s military offensive.
The President’s remarks open avenues for discussions about the future security arrangement in the region, aiming to provide stability and guarantee the safety of both the Palestinian and Israeli states.
