During their meeting, both sides emphasized the utmost importance of empowering and supporting all Lebanese institutions, especially the army, to maintain Lebanon's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

The meeting came after a US- and France-brokered truce between Israel and Lebanon went into effect Wednesday morning, bringing an end to the 14-month-old Israeli war in Lebanon.

Egypt welcomed the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, highlighting its role in de-escalating regional tensions through implementing UN Resolution 1701 and respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty. It also urged for ending the Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Gaza

Moreover, both sides reviewed the joint efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza that would secure a prisoners-captives swap between Israel and Hamas, and unconditional delivery of humanitarian aid to the strip.

They also emphasized the importance of unified efforts to support the Palestinian people and preserve their legitimate rights to establish an independent state in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, ensuring the protection of Palestinian national interests.

The international community should assume responsibility for ending the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, taking serious steps to provide the necessary humanitarian support to the Palestinian people and alleviate their suffering, they affirmed.

Egypt-Qatar mediation efforts
 

Meanwhile, the Qatari prime minister expressed his country’s appreciation for Egypt's continuous efforts in providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

He also highlighted Qatar’s anticipation of supporting the outcomes of the ministerial conference to be hosted by Cairo for enhancing the humanitarian response in Gaza as an effective step to help the Palestinian people.

Egypt and Qatar, along with the US, have been mediating indirect talks Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in the 14-month-old Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused at multiple critical junctions to sign a ceasefire/prisoner excahnge deal, opting to broaden the war in Gaza and tighten a blockade on the entry of most humanitarian aid to 2.3 million Palestinians in the strip who are facing near starvation conditions.

Egypt has repeatedly urged the international community to pressure Israel to open all border crossings with the strip for the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid.

Bilateral relations
 

The Qatari prime minister conveyed the greetings of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, emphasizing Qatar’s commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two nations.

Similarly, President El-Sisi expressed his appreciation to the emir of Qatar, highlighting their shared commitment to enhancing bilateral relations to meet the aspirations of both peoples and address regional and international challenges.

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly received his Qatari counterpart at the Cairo International Airport as he arrived in Egypt, leading a high-level delegation.

Both PMs are scheduled to chair an expanded meeting on Wednesday at the cabinet headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, with the participation of several ministers from both sides to discuss issues of mutual interest, according to a separate cabinet statement.