CAIRO, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday said that the displacement of Palestinians is "a red line" that will not be accepted or permitted by Egypt.
"We repeat rejection to the relocation of Palestinians to Egypt or Jordan," Sisi said in a speech at an event in support of Palestine held at the Cairo International Stadium.
The Egyptian president said the Palestinian cause has been facing a very sensitive and dangerous turn in light of an uncalculated and inhuman escalation, which has employed collective punishment and mass killing, the displacement of the Palestinian people, and the seizure of the land.
Since the Hamas-Israel conflict erupted on Oct. 7 after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, more than 14,000 Palestinians have been killed in relentless Israeli airstrikes and a ground offensive in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip, where a number of Palestinians have also been displaced. About 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 hostages were taken to Gaza during the Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israel.
Sisi thanked all the countries for calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, holding talks to settle the Palestinian cause, and preserving the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
Israel and Hamas on Wednesday initially agreed to implement a ceasefire in Gaza as a result of the mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the U.S., starting on Thursday. But the truce was delayed as the two sides were finalizing the details of the hostages for captives swap deal.
Both Hamas and Israel, as well as Qatar and Egypt, confirmed on Thursday that the ceasefire would take effect in the war-ridden enclave on Friday morning. ■