President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi asserted Egypt's willingness to proceed with ongoing efforts to promote Palestinian national unity.

During a phone call with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, Sisi stressed that the legitimate Palestinian Authority should shoulder its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip again, saying this will help revive the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, said Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady.

The two sides also discussed the Palestinian reconciliation file, the spokesman said.

For his part, Abbas thanked Egyptian leadership and people for their role in backing Palestinians' rights and efforts to achieve inter-Palestinian reconciliation in a way that enables them to restore their inalienable right to establish a Palestinian state, with Al Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) as its capital.

The two leaders also agreed on continued coordination and consultation on issues of mutual interest.