El Sisi congratulates Macron on election victory, talks food security: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Thursday made a call to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to congratulate him on his recent reelection for a second five-year term, according to an Ittihadiya statement. The pair also discussed the latest developments in the war in Ukraine and its effect on global food security, with the French side again pledging to “work in solidarity with Egypt” on tight food markets, an Élysée statement read. The two also discussed the COP27 climate summit scheduled to take place in Sharm El Sheikh this November.

The Foreign Ministry has expressed “deep concern” over Israel’s intention to demolish a number of Palestinian villages in the Masafer Yatta region in the occupied West Bank, according to an official statement. Some 1k Palestinians are facing eviction from their homes after an Israeli court last week gave the military permission to raze villages in the area and forcibly relocate the population, bringing to an end a two-decade legal battle over the land.