Macron urges flow of aid into Gaza on visit to Egyptian humanitarian workers near Strip

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a fresh ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and renewed flows of humanitarian aid into Gaza during a visit to Al-Arish on the Sinai Peninsula.

Al-Arish is located in north-eastern Egypt around 50 kilometres from Gaza and is a key transit point for aid headed into the Strip.

After he arrived in Cairo on Sunday, Macron said he intended to meet with wounded Palestinians, medical professionals and security personnel.

He is also expected to tour Red Crescent warehouses and meet with representatives from the UN and other aid groups.

The visit aims to emphasise the importance of establishing another ceasefire in Gaza, according to French media reports.

“Negotiations must resume without any delay and in a constructive manner and I want to welcome the tireless efforts from Egypt for the ceasefire and release of the hostages,” Macron said on Monday.

Macron’s demands were also echoed by el-Sissi, who said that “achieving sustainable peace and stability in the Middle East will remain a far-fetched issue as long as the Palestinian case is not settled fairly.”

Macron discussed the war in Gaza with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and later with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, both close Western allies who are also keen to see an end to the fighting in Gaza.

Egypt, along with Qatar, served as one of the key mediators for the ceasefire which came into force on 19 January but unravelled last month.

Macron’s visit, his second to Cairo since the war in Gaza erupted in 2023, comes at a critical time for the Middle East, after Israel last month reimposed a blockade of Gaza and resumed its fighting against Hamas, shattering the fragile truce.

The war, now in its 18th month, started when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on 7 October 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage.

The group still holds 59 captives, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.