<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>King Felipe VI denounced this Wednesday in Egypt "the brutal suffering" experienced by the population of the Gaza Strip and called for "a viable Palestinian State, living in peace and security with Israel."</strong></h4> "Allow me, Mr. President, to first refer to the situation in Palestine and particularly in the Gaza Strip, so close to this land, where our countries tirelessly denounce the brutal and unacceptable suffering of hundreds of thousands of people," the King stated during the luncheon hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for the King and Queen of Spain on the occasion of their first state visit to Cairo. "We recognize and appreciate the mediating role that Egypt has been playing to achieve a ceasefire agreement, the release of hostages, and the full restoration of humanitarian aid," the King continued. “Spain supports initiatives such as the plan you are promoting for the reconstruction of Gaza, which is so necessary for its population to recover their lives and dignity in that territory, which, along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem, must be part of a viable Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security with Israel,” he stated. “However distant that goal may remain today, given everything that has happened and the news and images that reach us daily, we cannot waver in our efforts,” he warned. For his part, Al Sisi expressed his “deep gratitude for Spain's historic position in support of the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish their own state, and for Spain's recognition of the Palestinian state at a very important and delicate moment.” With this decision, he asserted, Spain “stands on the right side of history following the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip.” “Spain's support for a just and comprehensive peace in the region reflects its commitment to the principles of morality, truth, and justice, a position we highly value, both at the official and popular levels. We hope this support will continue and that we will work together to achieve a lasting and just peace for the peoples of the region,” he added. This Wednesday, the second day of the King and Queen's state visit, began with a floral tribute at the Memorial to the Martyrs of the Armed Forces. Midmorning, Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were officially received by President Al-Sisi and the First Lady, Entissar Amer El-Sisi, at Al-Ittihadiya Palace (Heliopolis). In this context, the King awarded the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic to the President of Egypt and the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella to his wife. Likewise, on the occasion of this state visit, the Council of Ministers awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic on Tuesday, at the proposal of Albares, to the Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Kamal Madbouly, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Investment and Foreign Trade, and Tourism and Antiquities, the Egyptian Ambassador to Spain, and other Egyptian leaders. Following this, King Felipe held a bilateral meeting with the Egyptian President, which was attended, on the Spanish side, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares; the Spanish Ambassador to Egypt, Álvaro Iranzo; the Secretary of State for Trade; and the Director General for the Maghreb, the Mediterranean, and the Near East. On the Egyptian side, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Affairs of Egyptians Abroad, Badr Ahmed Abdelatty; the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Hassan Mohamed El-Khatib; and the Egyptian Ambassador to Spain, Ehab Ahmed Badawy, among others, were present. Following the luncheon hosted by the President and First Lady for the King and Queen, King Felipe went to the Egyptian House of Representatives, where he met with its speaker, Hanafy El-Gabali. The King then headed to the Egyptian Senate, where he met with its president, Wahab Abdel Razek.
