By Manal Abdel Fattah
The French Ambassador to Egypt, Eric Chevalier, congratulated the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.
During the meeting that took place in the Al-Azhar sheikhdom, the French ambassador stressed the French position regarding Gaza, which includes calling for an immediate ceasefire and strengthening humanitarian aid for the benefit of the civilian population.
The French Embassy in Cairo stated, on its social media accounts, that Ambassador Chevalier also met today with the Palestinian Ambassador to Cairo, Diab Al-Louh, to discuss the necessity of an immediate ceasefire, the humanitarian response to the Gaza Strip, and political prospects.
Ramadan falls today, Monday, in Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, most of the Gulf states, Egypt, Yemen, and the Palestinian territories, while Jordan and Iran announced that the first day of the month of fasting will be Tuesday.
This year, the month of Ramadan comes to the region and the Islamic world in a sad atmosphere due to the war in Gaza, and the Israeli bombing that the besieged Palestinian Strip is witnessing, a humanitarian crisis, and famine that threatens more than two million of its residents.
Despite the decline in hopes of reaching a ceasefire, which would have ensured the peaceful passage of the month of Ramadan and allowed the exchange of a number of the 134 Israeli prisoners detained in Gaza, with Palestinian prisoners, Egypt’s efforts continue.
Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath sources reported on Monday that Cairo has begun extensive contacts to reach a truce during the first week of Ramadan.
