President Abdel Fattah El Sisi was in Doha yesterday to attend the emergency Arab-Islamic summit to discuss Israel’s airstrike on the Qatari capital, which killed five Hamas officials and one Qatari security official, according to an Ittihadeya statement. El Sisi delivered a speech during the summit laying out Egypt’s approach and its commitment to regional security and stability.

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El Sisi used his speech to deliver Egypt’s strongest condemnation yet of Israel’s strike on Qatar, calling it “a grave violation of international law and the UN Charter, a dangerous precedent, and a threat to Arab and Islamic national security.” He said the attack “reflects how Israeli practices have crossed every political and military red line” and warned that “this behavior risks expanding the conflict and dragging the region into a dangerous spiral of escalation.” He stressed Egypt’s full solidarity with Qatar and said the strike undermines mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, aimed at reaching a Gaza ceasefire.

Speaking of Gaza, El Sisi said that “it is time to deal seriously and decisively with the Palestinian cause” and renewed his call for “the immediate recognition of the State of Palestine.” He warned that Israel’s policies undermine all chances for peace and said the region needs an Arab-Islamic security and cooperation framework to stop unilateral arrangements.

The president was also busy on the sidelines of the conference, with several bilateral meetings to discuss joint cooperation and coordination. El Sisi’s meeting with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed the importance of creating a “shared vision for collective Arab action and forming a unified front to protect Arab national security,” according to a separate statement.

El Sisi also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where both leaders highlighted the growing momentum in Egyptian–Turkish ties and pledged continued coordination on regional and international issues, according to a separate statement. They jointly condemned Israel’s attack on Qatar and rejected “policies of blockade and starvation” targeting Palestinians, reiterating that the only path to lasting stability is a two-state solution.

Also on the sidelines: El Sisi met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss boosting economic and investment cooperation.

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