UPDATES WITH DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK
By Omar Alothmani and Mohammad Sio
ISTANBUL (AA) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met Wednesday in Cairo with the top military officials of Pakistan and Italy to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in military and security fields, the Egyptian presidency said.
Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza delivered greetings from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and praised the continued momentum and positive trajectory in relations between the two nations, a presidential statement said.
The talks focused on boosting joint collaboration in defense and security and sharing expertise in combating terrorism and extremism, reflecting what the statement described as “the two countries’ mutual strategic interests.”
The meeting also addressed developments in the Middle East, particularly Egypt’s ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to the presidency.
Both sides stressed the need for the international community to take responsibility for alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensuring aid reaches civilians.
The statement also emphasized the importance of expanding international recognition of a Palestinian state as the only path toward lasting peace and regional stability.
Sisi also held talks with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto to discuss “ways to enhance cooperation between Egypt and Italy in various fields, particularly military and security, consolidate the strategic bilateral relations, and advance common interests,” the presidency said.
The discussions addressed developments in the Palestinian territories and Egyptian efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
According to the statement, the meeting also underlined rejection of “the displacement of Palestinians from their land and the importance of implementing a two-state solution through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, being the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.”
France, along with 14 other Western nations, issued a joint appeal Wednesday calling for recognition of a Palestinian state and a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a statement by the French Foreign Ministry.
Last year, Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia recognized Palestine, bringing the number of UN member states recognizing Palestinian statehood to 148 out of 193 UN member states.
Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 60,100 Palestinians. The relentless bombardment has devastated the enclave and led to food shortages.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.