On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the Egyptian government to take all necessary measures to help resettle Christians who have fled Northern Sinai after the Islamic State attacked the community and killed several people in the process.
From January 30 to February 23, hundreds of Christians have fled out of Ismailia after seven Christians were killed in Arish. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for these deaths with five of them shot to death. One of the victims was beheaded and one was set on fire.
Al-Sisi held a meeting with the prime minister and ministers of defense, interior, and intelligence among other officials to discuss 'the importance to resist all attempts to sabotage stability and security in Egypt.'
The statement released by the Egyptian government also said that the president 'directed the government to take all necessary measures to facilitate settlements for citiens in their set resettled areas.'
Orthodox Coptic Christians comprise 10% of the Egyptian population and is the largest Christian community in the Middle East. For years, the group has been a target of persecution by several parties.
In December, for instance, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for bombing a chapel close to Cairo's St Mark's Cathedral, the seat of power of the Coptic papacy. The attack killed 28 people, mostly women and children.
