Egypt, China reject Palestinian displacement, call for Gaza ceasefire

Egypt and China reaffirmed on Wednesday their support for the Palestinian cause and called for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, while rejecting any plans to displace Palestinians from their land.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Chinese President Xi Jinping said a just and lasting settlement should be based on a two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state on the borders of 4 June 1967, and East Jerusalem as its capital.

The two countries “categorically rejected” plans to displace Palestinians from their territory under any pretext, according to a joint statement issued after the presidents’ talks.

They called for consolidating the Gaza ceasefire and ensuring the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.

The two sides also called for the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza as soon as possible.

Egypt and China expressed concern over what they described as dangerous Israeli escalation in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, including increased settler violence, land confiscation and settlement construction.

They stressed the importance of preserving the territorial unity of the Palestinian territories and supporting the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The statement was issued during Xi’s state visit to Egypt, as the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.