Egypt’s President Says Looks Forward to Deepening Ties with Russia

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Reuters file photo
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Reuters file photo
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Egypt’s President Says Looks Forward to Deepening Ties with Russia

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Reuters file photo
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Reuters file photo

Egypt has expressed a desire to deepen ties with Moscow at all levels, to build on the current projects that they cooperate in implementing in Egypt, foremost of which are the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant and the Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal Axis.

This statement was made during a phone conversation on Saturday between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, to review the current developments in Libya.

Sisi told Putin that Egypt is continuing its efforts to facilitate “the current transitional phase and activate the free will of the Libyan people in choosing their leaders and representatives,” presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

Egypt's president and his Russian counterpart agreed to “intensify joint efforts and coordination between Egypt and Russia to resolve the Libyan crisis,” the presidency added.

Russia and Egypt agreed to “counter and undermine armed militias and terrorist organizations and put an end to illegitimate foreign meddling in Libyan affairs,” the statement read.



Gaza Rescuers Say 72 Killed by Israeli Fire

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Gaza Rescuers Say 72 Killed by Israeli Fire

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 19, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli fire killed at least 72 people in the Palestinian territory on Thursday, including 21 who had gathered to receive aid in central and southern Gaza.

Updating an earlier figure, civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP the death toll had risen to 72, "due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip since dawn today -- 21 of them were waiting for aid.”

The Israeli army told AFP that troops had fired "warning shots" at "suspects" approaching them in the Netzarim area where the civil defense agency said 15 people were killed waiting for aid, but that it was "not aware of any injured individuals.”