Politician Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh made phone calls with both president, Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the head of Arab League, Nabil El-Arabi, to urge that Egypt allow medical convoys to Gaza Al-Ahram's Arabic website reported.

The calls come on the back of intensifying violence in the coastal enclave where Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 192 Palestinians and injured hundreds since Tuesday.

The former presidential candidate called on the presidency that Egypt reclaim its pivotal role within the Palestinian issue, and discussed the current situation in Gaza.

In November 2012, Abul-Fotouh, who was president of Arab Doctors Union at the time, headed a medical convoy to Gaza Strip to treat injured Palestinians when the Strip was under Israeli airstrikes.

On Friday, President El-Sisi ordered Egypt's army to transport 500 tons of food and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip.

In November 2012, Egypt sponsored a truce between Hamas and Israel following a conflict that led to the death of more than 140 Palestinians in non-stop airstrikes on heavily populated areas over a period of one week.