Egypt’s President Affirms Significance of ‘National Projects’

Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt’s President Affirms Significance of ‘National Projects’

Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Saturday affirmed that the hard work in “national projects” being implemented in the country aims to establish a new Egyptian reality, characterized by a high quality of life, and an increase in employment and development opportunities for all Egyptians.

Egypt, like other countries in the world, is facing an economic crisis due to the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The crisis has been compounded by a drop in the currency against the dollar.

Sisi convened with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Major General, Ahmed Al-Azazy.

The spokesman for the Presidency, Ahmed Fahmy, stated that the meeting reviewed the status of a number of Engineering Authority projects in various sectors nationwide, particularly establishing and developing the road network, and achieving optimal utilization of lands and main roads to establish integrated industrial and agricultural development areas, in order to ease traffic jams.

This is in addition to increasing and facilitating the movement of trade and investments and promoting various economic activities, in a way that contributes to achieving the goals of comprehensive and sustainable development.

Engineering Authority projects, within the framework of the national strategy for the reconstruction and development of Sinai, were also presented as well as the status of the construction of projects in new cities across the country.

Sisi gave directives to continue work, while committing to the designated timetables, and to apply the highest standards in the stages of planning, implementation, follow-up, and evaluation. This is while taking into consideration environmental requirements.

The major development projects carried out by the state were not for show, but necessary to establish the investment environment and infrastructure to achieve comprehensive economic development that raises the standard of living of all people, said Sisi earlier at a ceremony marking the 71st Police Day at the Police Academy Conference Complex.

"It is impossible to embark on the path of modern industrialization and massive export without having the necessary elements to achieve this, including cities, roads, a transportation network, technology, electricity, water, and sanitation."



Israeli Cabinet Approves Expansion of Gaza Offensive

Israeli soldiers walk in the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzim attacked by Palestinian Hamas group earlier this month, close to the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Israeli soldiers walk in the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzim attacked by Palestinian Hamas group earlier this month, close to the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
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Israeli Cabinet Approves Expansion of Gaza Offensive

Israeli soldiers walk in the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzim attacked by Palestinian Hamas group earlier this month, close to the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Israeli soldiers walk in the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzim attacked by Palestinian Hamas group earlier this month, close to the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet has approved a gradual expansion of the offensive against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Monday, citing sources with knowledge of the details.

The Israeli military has already begun issuing tens of thousands of call-up orders for its reserve forces, looking to expand the Gaza campaign, army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement on Sunday.

In a video message posted on X on Sunday, hours after part of a missile launched from Yemen by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia fell close to Israel's main gateway, Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu said he was convening the security cabinet to discuss "the next stage" of the war in Gaza.

"We are increasing the pressure with the goal of returning our people (hostages) and defeating Hamas," Zamir told troops, according to the statement from the army.

Israel resumed ground operations in Gaza in March after the collapse of a US-backed ceasefire that had halted fighting for two months, Reuters said.

The security cabinet also approved a new plan for aid distribution in Gaza, Israel’s Ynet news website reported on Monday, though it was unclear when supplies would be let in to the enclave.

Israel is in control of around a third of Gaza's territory and has faced growing international pressure to lift an aid blockade that it imposed in March.

Israel has defended the blockade by saying that Hamas has seized aid intended for civilians and kept it for its own fighters or sold it, charges that Hamas has denied.

Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas attack on Oct 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza in the deadliest day for Israel in its history.

The campaign has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities and devastated the Gaza Strip, leaving its 2.3 million population depending on aid supplies that have been dwindling rapidly since the blockade.