By Mary Nady,
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi affirmed to Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya that Egypt is pressing ahead with Gaza ceasefire efforts to promote calm and avoid further escalation in the region.
This came during a meeting with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Al-Yahya in Cairo on Thursday.
A ceasefire will facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and help prevent further regional escalation, El-Sisi said during the meeting.
According to a presidential statement, both sides discussed the latest developments in Gaza and other regional issues, stressing that all parties should “assume responsibility to stop the bloodshed and prevent more expansion of the conflict in the region.”
Al-Yahya praised Egypt’s crucial efforts for stabilizing the region, read the statement.
A fresh round of the Hamas-Israel negotiations, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, concluded on Wednesday in Doha, in a new bid to break the deadlock in the prisoners swap and ceasefire deal talks.
“The round was serious and offered a hopeful sign,” a high-level Egyptian source told Al-Qahera News channel on Wednesday evening.
Since 7 October, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been mediating between Hamas and Israel for a ceasefire deal and an exchange of prisoners.
Over the last several months, several rounds of talks in Doha and Cairo failed to reach a ceasefire deal as Israel keeps making new demands whenever a deal is at hand.
Moreover, El-Sisi and Al-Yahya touched on ways to enhance joint Arab action in facing the current regional challenges, the statement added.
Bilateral cooperation
The meeting also addressed efforts to enhance Egyptian-Kuwaiti relations across various fields, particularly through the joint committee, which commenced its 13th session during Al-Yahya’s visit to Cairo.
Additionally, both leaders expressed a strong commitment to advancing the committee’s work to serve the interests of their nations.
