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Sisi Calls For Regional, International Collective Action to Confront Hate Speech

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the video conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday (Photo: Egypt’s Presidential Spokesperson)
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the video conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday (Photo: Egypt’s Presidential Spokesperson)
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Sisi Calls For Regional, International Collective Action to Confront Hate Speech

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the video conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday (Photo: Egypt’s Presidential Spokesperson)
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the video conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday (Photo: Egypt’s Presidential Spokesperson)

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called for a collective action at the regional and international levels to confront hate speech and extremism with the participation of various religious institutions to spread the values of peace.

Sisi’s comments came on Monday during a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He also discussed with his French counterpart President Emmanuel Macron “regional issues and efforts to confront terrorism.”

Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radhi said that Macron contacted Sisi to discuss “common stances regarding the fight against terrorism and extremism… and the recent terrorist attacks in France.”

Sisi emphasized “the necessity to differentiate between the Islamic religion, which calls for promoting peace, tolerance and renouncing violence, and terrorist acts committed by those who claim to belong to Islam and which are strongly condemned.”

He continued: “There is a need to focus on spreading the values of coexistence between the followers of different religions, through dialogue, understanding and mutual respect.”

Also on Monday, Sisi held a video conference with Merkel, with whom he discussed strategic bilateral relations and the means to confront extremist ideology and combat terrorism, in light of the recent attacks in a number of European countries.

According to the Egyptian presidential spokesman, Sisi stressed that the religious values had nothing to do with acts of extremism and terrorism.

He pointed to “the importance of formulating a collective action at the regional and international level to confront hate speech and extremism, with the participation of various religious institutions from all sides, with the aim of spreading the values of peace and consolidating the foundations of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among all peoples.”

The two officials also discussed the latest developments concerning Libya.

In this regard, Radhi said the German Chancellor praised Cairo’s endeavor to settle the Libyan crisis and Sisi’s personal efforts in this context, which would “enhance the political process and consolidate Egypt’s role as a pillar of security and stability in its regional environment and the Middle East region.”

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Israel Deliberately Targets Medical Teams, Aid Workers in Lebanon

Volunteers from the Lebanese Red Cross rescue a woman in the city of Nabatieh in South Lebanon (AFP)
Volunteers from the Lebanese Red Cross rescue a woman in the city of Nabatieh in South Lebanon (AFP)
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Israel Deliberately Targets Medical Teams, Aid Workers in Lebanon

Volunteers from the Lebanese Red Cross rescue a woman in the city of Nabatieh in South Lebanon (AFP)
Volunteers from the Lebanese Red Cross rescue a woman in the city of Nabatieh in South Lebanon (AFP)

Over the past three weeks, Israel has systematically targeted hospitals, medical staff, aid workers, and ambulances across various regions of Lebanon, particularly in the heavily bombarded southern areas.
Tel Aviv appears intent on erasing signs of life and sustainability, especially south of the Litani River, aiming to turn the region into scorched earth and establish a buffer zone by force. The exact size of this zone, who will control it, and whether it will involve a permanent occupation remain unclear.
Lebanese Health Minister Firas Al-Abiad recently stated that Israel is “deliberately and systematically” targeting medical teams, revealing that 13 hospitals are no longer operational, more than 150 healthcare workers have been killed, and over 100 medical centers and 130 ambulances have been targeted.
Last week, Nicolas von Arx, the regional director for the Near and Middle East at the International Committee of the Red Cross, issued an urgent call to protect healthcare personnel, ambulances, hospitals, and primary care centers, expressing deep concern over the attacks on medical facilities.
The Islamic Health Authority, affiliated with Hezbollah, reported that over 80 rescue workers have been killed in the past year, 70 of them in the past three weeks alone. The Scout Association of Amal Movement reported losing 21 members. Meanwhile, the Israeli army recently announced that any vehicle suspected of carrying armed militants would be considered a legitimate military target, regardless of its type.
Sobhiya Najjar, a public policy expert and coordinator of the Social Protection for All campaign at the Center for Social Science Research Applications (CESSRA), highlighted that the destruction of Lebanon’s healthcare system is systematic and mirrors what is happening in Gaza. She noted that Lebanon’s healthcare system, particularly in regions like Baalbek-Hermel, Bint Jbeil, and Tyre, was already fragile.
Najjar told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel targets medical centers, staff, ambulances, and firefighting services to weaken Hezbollah’s ability to treat the wounded and provide essential healthcare, thus increasing pressure on the health system.
This strategy sows chaos and fear among civilians, weakening morale and hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid, including medical and food supplies. She stressed that such actions violate international laws, which protect medical teams as neutral entities.
Paul Morcos, head of the legal organization Justicia, added that while Israel claims medical facilities and ambulances are used to hide weapons and militants, indiscriminate attacks that endanger doctors, nurses, patients, and civilians are prohibited under international law. He cited the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their protocols, which mandate taking precautions to avoid harm to civilians and ensure proportionality in military operations. These rules, he emphasized, have become customary and are binding on all nations.
For her part, political activist Dr. Mona Fayyad described these actions as part of a “genocide” committed by Israel, deliberately preventing the rescue of the wounded. She criticized the international community’s silence and argued that even if some medical personnel support Hezbollah, there is no justification for risking civilian lives under any pretext.