CAIRO

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday an upcoming meeting that includes French President Emmanuel Macron and the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan.

In a statement, the ministry said: “Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry headed Friday to the French capital, Paris, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron to participate in a ministerial meeting that includes the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.”

The visit comes “within the framework of the French side's keenness to communicate and coordinate with Arab ministers to push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,” it said.

The visit will also witness "discussions on international and regional efforts aimed at finding a serious political horizon to end the crisis and support the implementation of the two-state solution.”

Months ago, Paris witnessed meetings that brought together the mediators of the Gaza negotiations, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, to discuss a way for reaching a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Israel continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023 despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the enclave.

At least 35,800 Palestinians have been killed, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and 80,200 others injured since last October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to ensure that its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi