President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed the latest efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip with CIA Director William Burns during a meeting in Cairo on Sunday.
During the meeting, they reviewed the Egyptian-Qatari-American ceasefire efforts, highlighting the need to intensify efforts to stop military escalation in the strip, a presidential statement read.
El-Sisi urged concerted international efforts to pressure for the immediate flow of adequate levels of much-needed humanitarian aid to all areas of the strip in order to address the humanitarian catastrophe there, the statement added
They both stressed the urgency of protecting civilians and avoiding any escalation into Rafah, categorically rejecting the displacement of Palestinians from their territories.
Moreover, El-Sisi warned against the repercussions of escalation on regional peace and stability, as the war enters its seventh month.
According to the statement, he also reiterated his call for a just settlement to the Palestinian cause, based on the two-state solution.
Truce talks
Cairo is hosting today a fresh round of talks to reach a ceasefire and detainee swap deal.
Burns, Head of Mossad David Barnea, and negotiators from Egypt and Qatar are expected to attend.
A Hamas delegation had planned to fly to Cairo on Sunday to join the talks.
Egypt and Qatar helped mediate a week-long ceasefire in late November when Hamas freed over 100 captives in exchange for 240 detained Palestinian women and children.
However, subsequent talks have failed to progress on a ceasefire or detainee swap deal.
Israel has killed at least 33,175 Palestinians and injured 75,886, most of whom are children and women, during its six-month war on Gaza.
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