Egyptian, American presidents review efforts exerted for cease-fire in Gaza

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his US counterpart Joe Biden on Friday discussed the developments of the Israeli ongoing war on Gaza, and efforts exerted to cease-fire.

According to a statement by the Egyptian Presidency spokesman Ahmed Fahmy, al-Sisi received a phone call from President Biden during which they also discussed their bilateral relations.

Both presidents "discussed developments pertinent to the ongoing efforts to reach a humanitarian cease-fire, with the aim of protecting civilians, exchanging detainees, hostages and prisoners, and giving access to humanitarian aid, in a manner that reduces tension and ends the current situation."

The statement also stressed the two leaders' rejection to "any attempt to displace the Palestinians outside their lands," and reiterated commitment to the two-state solution as "basis for security and stability in the Middle East."

Biden thanked Egypt for its role towards the current crisis in Gaza, and voiced support for its efforts to "provide access to humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip."

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, killing at least 26,083 Palestinians and injuring 64,487. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.