Reaffirms Opposition to Shelter Gaza Palestinians

Egypt's president has reiterated his strong stance against taking in Palestinians fleeing Gaza. Abdel Fattah El-Sissi said during a news conference following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron that “the idea of fleeing, displacement, migration or leaving the (Gaza) strip to Egyptian lands is very dangerous.” Egypt’s staunch refusal is rooted in the fear that Israel wants to force a permanent expulsion of Palestinians into their country and to nullify Palestinian demands for statehood. El-Sissi has made similar remarks during a presser with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz last week. Speaking at the news conference with Macron in Cairo, El-Sissi also cautioned against an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, warning that it would lead to many more fatalities. He also called for more humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza strip. Gaza has been blockaded and devastated by Israeli airstrikes since Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel more than two weeks ago. The war, in its 19th day Wednesday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry more than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 704 in the past day, and 16,297 wounded