Egypt’s foreign minister during meeting with French counterpart: A time frame must be set for establishment of an independent Palestinian state

CAIRO: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said today that the Palestinian issue must be dealt with by reaching a comprehensive political framework and setting a clear-cut timeframe for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Shoukry made these remarks during a press conference with his French counterpart Stéphane Séjourné, in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The Egyptian minister stressed the importance of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and enabling aid delivery to the Palestinian people there. He affirmed Egypt's utter rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, which he warned could prompt a dangerous expansion of conflict in the Middle East. For his part, the French Foreign Minister also stressed the necessity of a ceasefire in Gaza, praising efforts made by Egypt to bring humanitarian, medical and food aid into the Strip. He further expressed his country's rejection of any forced displacement of the population of the Gaza Strip, which is facing a tragic sit uation and a distinct lack of basic humanitarian needs. Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA