Egyptian president receives phone call from Israeli PM after brokering ceasefire with Gaza Strip

CAIRO - 8 August 2022: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi received Monday evening a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid who expressed appreciation for Egypt over brokering a ceasefire with Gaza Strip.

Lapid said that the mediation reflects Egypt’s role as a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East.

On his side, President Sisi pointed out that Egypt deployed diligent and concentrated efforts to contain the situation on the battlefield, and prevent the expansion of the scope of military confrontations.

The president stressed the salience of building on the current pacification, and steering clear from any attempts to castigate the situation in the West Bank or Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian president equally stipulated the necessity of improving the living conditions in Gaza Strip, enhancing relations with the Palestinian Authority (PA), and backing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

President Sisi also expressed Egypt’s desire to renewing hope among the Palestinian people in achieving peace and restoring its rights in accordance with international  law and resolutions.

Hence, the Egyptian president underscored the importance of breaking the cycle of recurring violence and escalation, in order to pave the way for endeavors aimed at accomplishing settlement, stability, pacification, and peace between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, which would change the status quo of the entire region. 

Egypt had called for a comprehensive and mutual ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, and that started on August 7 at 23:30 (Palestinian Local Time).

Egypt is exerting its efforts to release Palestinian prisoner Khalil Al-Awawda, who was on a hunger strike inside an Israeli prison, and transfer him to receive treatment, a security official told Egypt Today.

Egypt is also working to release the prisoner Bassam Al-Saadi, a member of the Islamic Jihad Movement, as soon as possible, the source added.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement confirmed that Egypt-brokered ceasefire with Israel has been reached, Sky News reported.

Israel shelled Gaza Strip for three days, targeting members of the Palestinian Jihadi Movement.

The attacks resulted in killing 43 people, including 15 children and 4 women, and injuring 311 others including children, women and elderly people, the Palestinian Health Ministry announced on Sunday.