Egypt's Sisi Underlines 'Great Achievement' in Eliminating Terrorism

Sisi meets with members of the Supreme Police Council. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi meets with members of the Supreme Police Council. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt's Sisi Underlines 'Great Achievement' in Eliminating Terrorism

Sisi meets with members of the Supreme Police Council. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi meets with members of the Supreme Police Council. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi underlined the “great achievement” in eliminating terrorism across the country.

He said Egypt’s ultimate goal is to preserve its survival, maintain security and provide safety for citizens.

Sisi was speaking during the 70th Police Day celebrations at the Police Academy in New Cairo, which coincided with the 11th anniversary of the January Revolution that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak.

Police Day marks the anniversary of the Ismailiyah Battle in 1952 when Egyptian police officers refused to hand over their weapons to the British occupation and evacuate the Ismailiyah governorate building.

Sisi said the “glorious” battle embodies police heroism and the values of sacrifice, redemption and courage in defense of the homeland.

He saluted the police martyrs and their families and hailed their sacrifices to ensure 100 million citizens could live in peace, security and progress.

He praised the national role played by police officers and the armed forces to maintain security and stability across the country and achieve the aspired comprehensive development.

The January 25 Revolution was a revolt led by devoted youth who were looking forward to a better future and reality, he declared.

What has been achieved at the economic and security levels is just a step on the path to build the future, he stressed.

Sisi added that the leadership seeks to consolidate the foundations of the country’s stability and build the new republic that preserves the dignity of the Egyptians and provides them with the best living conditions.



Pope Calls Situation in Gaza 'Shameful'

Palestinians carry the dead body of a child, at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, January 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
Palestinians carry the dead body of a child, at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, January 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
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Pope Calls Situation in Gaza 'Shameful'

Palestinians carry the dead body of a child, at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, January 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
Palestinians carry the dead body of a child, at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, January 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

Pope Francis on Thursday stepped up his recent criticisms of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave "very serious and shameful.”

In a yearly address to diplomats delivered on his behalf by an aide, Francis appeared to reference deaths caused by winter cold in Gaza, where there is almost no electricity.

"We cannot in any way accept the bombing of civilians," the text said, according to Reuters.
"We cannot accept that children are freezing to death because hospitals have been destroyed or a country's energy network has been hit."

The pope, 88, was present for the address but asked an aide to read it for him as he is recovering from a cold.

The comments were part of an address to Vatican-accredited envoys from some 184 countries that is sometimes called the pope's 'state of the world' speech. The Israeli ambassador to the Holy See was among those present for the event.

Francis, leader of the 1.4-billion-member Roman Catholic Church, is usually careful about taking sides in conflicts.
But he has recently been more outspoken about Israel's military campaign against Palestinian militant group Hamas, and has suggested
the global community should study whether the offensive constitutes a genocide of the Palestinian people.
An Israeli government minister publicly denounced the pontiff in December for that suggestion.

The pope's text said he condemns anti-Semitism, and called the growth of anti-Semitic groups "a source of deep concern."
Francis also called for an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia, which has killed tens of thousands.