During the call, President El-Sisi and Chancellor Scholz also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and the efforts to restore regional peace and stability, according to a presidential statement.

The Egyptian president stressed to the German chancellor the crucial need for the international community to play a decisive and effective role in achieving the desired ceasefire deal and the exchange of captives and detainees, while actively participating in mediation efforts.

President El-Sisi further highlighted the importance of a comprehensive political process to establish an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution following the relevant international resolutions.

For his part, Chancellor Scholz praised Egypt’s tireless efforts to address the crisis and end the war on Gaza, acknowledging the country’s role in delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged strip.

He also affirmed both countries’ mutual vision regarding ensuring access to sufficient relief aid to address the serious humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Egypt, Qatar, and the US have been working for months to mediate a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel to end the more-than-10-month-old Israeli war on the strip.

Since 7 October, Israel has killed and injured over 130,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, damaged most of Gaza’s infrastructure, and displaced the majority of the population.

Egypt has been receiving local and international humanitarian and medical aid to deliver to over two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip under Israeli bombardment and blockade.