Macron calls for ceasefire in Gaza during Egypt visit, rejects displacement of Palestinians

French President Emmanuel Macron toured Arish on Tuesday, the Egyptian governorate bordering Gaza, concluding a visit that saw him express diplomatic backing for Cairo's efforts to support aid deliveries to Palestinians, mediate an end to Israel's war and plan for the strip’s reconstruction. 

He also upgraded diplomatic relations with Egypt to the level of “strategic partnership,” voicing a commitment from France to reinforce Egypt’s stability amid regional turbulence. 

During the first leg of the visit in Cairo, Macron, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the king of Jordan held a trilateral summit where they called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for Palestinians to be protected and receive full and immediate aid, and the implementation of January’s terms for a full prisoner exchange, according to a joint statement published Monday by the French presidency.

The three leaders repeated their rejection of the plans announced by United States President Donald Trump to displace Palestinians from Gaza and force them to resettle in Egypt and Jordan.

Macron, Sisi and King Abdullah II articulated the positions directly to Trump in a call following the summit, according to a readout released by Egypt’s presidency.

The call — during which the four leaders agreed to remain in close contact — came a day after the trio Egyptian-French-Jordanian summit, held against the backdrop of worsening conditions in Gaza and the West Bank.

The summit aimed to support the Arab plan to counter Trump’s proposed displacement plan and followed Macron’s visit to Egypt, which marked the elevation of bilateral relations.

Macron also expressed backing for the plan Cairo put forward for the reconstruction of Gaza, which was adopted by the Arab League, and for a follow-up conference which is yet to be scheduled. 

Sources told Mada Masr in March that Saudi Arabia was unwilling to provide financial backing for the reconstruction plan before other funding sources were first established, and the United Arab Emirates was unwilling to fund unless Hamas and all armed Palestinian resistance movements were dissolved. Macron also stated that Hamas should not play a role in governing post-war Gaza, saying the territory’s future should be overseen by the Palestinian Authority. “Hamas must have no role in this governance and must no longer constitute a threat to Israel,” he said.

“No to the displacement of the people of Gaza” 

Macron concluded his visit to Arish on Tuesday, following several days of preparations comprising clean-up operations and repainting on the coastal road coupled with the deployment of plainclothes security officers lining the route.

A large banner featuring portraits of Sisi and Macron was placed along the route, flanked by the logo of Egypt’s new National Front Party — a new political group formed in recent months to contest this year’s parliamentary elections, funded by the businessman and former fugitive Ibrahim al-Argany. The slogan on the banner read: “No to the displacement of the people of Gaza.”

Their itinerary included inspections of key sites in Arish, including Arish General Hospital, logistical sites involved in the delivery of aid to Gaza at Arish Seaport and storage warehouses.

The arrival of the two presidents coincided with many state-affiliated domestic outlets reporting that thousands of Egyptians rallied in support of Sisi and in protest of Israel’s war in Gaza, in gatherings across various governorates and at the border near the Rafah crossing. Demonstrators called for immediate humanitarian relief for Palestinians and voiced their rejection of any plans to displace Gaza’s population.

North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer described the atmosphere during the visit of both presidents as one of “overwhelming joy” during a televised phone call on the Kalima Akhira talkshow program. 

Strategic partnership 

Macron said that the decision to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership is aimed at reinforcing Egypt’s stability amid regional turbulence. The upgrade includes enhanced cooperation in key sectors such as health, transportation, energy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and green hydrogen production.

The French president also expressed continued support for Egypt’s talks with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission. He said that France’s development agency would sign loans and grants worth 260 million euros (US$284.5 million), targeting sectors including transport, health, water and energy — payments which fall within an existing 4 billion euro financial commitment between Egypt and the agency signed in 2006. 

The leaders also signed several agreements and memoranda of understanding, including a declaration of intent between the Egyptian and French health ministries, an agreement to establish a French health center in Cairo, a memorandum to establish 100 Francophone schools and a roadmap for the implementation of Cairo Metro Line 6.

Macron emphasized France’s continued support for Egypt, including cooperation on curbing illegal immigration and addressing the refugee crisis.

He noted that French investments in Egypt now total 7 billion euros.“This reflects the extent of our commitment to strengthening our economic presence in the Egyptian market.”