Combined images of (From L to R) Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and US Special Envoy Steve Witko. Al-Ahram
During a phone call on Tuesday, the two sides also addressed ways to ensure the commencement of the ceasefire agreement's second phase.
According to a foreign ministry statement, both diplomats agreed that such steps to de-escalate and restore calm were necessary.
Abdelatty and Witkoff also exchanged views on implementing the Egypt-prepared Arab-Islamic plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, which includes the strip’s security and governance.
Arab and Islamic nations, the European Union (EU), Japan, France, and other international entities endorsed the plan.
Meanwhile, Abdelatty highlighted Egypt's eagerness to host an international conference on Gaza reconstruction in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) and the Palestinian Authority (PA), with the participation of global actors.
Additionally, Egypt’s top diplomat stressed to the US envoy the urgency of delivering humanitarian, medical and shelter aid to Gaza to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, the statement noted.
Genocide resumed
On 2 March, Israel reinforced its deadly blockade on the strip, barring the entry of nutritional, medical, and humanitarian aid.
On 18 March, Israel unilaterally ruptured the ceasefire.
Since then, Tel Aviv resumed its genocidal war on Gaza, killing at least 1,391 people and raising the overall Palestinian death toll since 7 October 2023 to 50,752, mostly women and children.
Israel sought to extend the first phase of the ceasefire, which began on 19 January, and secure the release of all remaining captives from Gaza without offering anything in return, stalling talks for the second phase.
The two sides had agreed that the second phase of the truce would stipulate the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent end to the war in exchange for the release of all Israeli captives.
Additionally, Abdelatty underlined to Witkoff the importance of finding a political horizon leading to a final settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Abdelatty expressed Egypt's aspiration to consolidate coordination with the US administration to achieve peace in the Middle East.
He also underlined the importance of stepping up efforts to de-escalate the tension in the region and avert the expansion of conflict and its serious consequences for the region's people.
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