Doha: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, have reaffirmed the urgent need to reach an immediate ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, alongside the swift and unhindered delivery of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid. They also called for an immediate end to the policy of starvation and systematic killing, warning that such actions fuel the conflict and foster extremism.

According to Qatar News Agency, a statement issued by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday detailed that the two ministers discussed by phone the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza amid the ongoing brutal Israeli aggression. They stressed the need to protect civilians and uphold the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, including the establishment of an independent state along the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The ministers also reiterated their categorical rejection of the Israeli Cabinet’s decision to develop a plan to occupy the Gaza Strip and expand military operations, calling it an attempt to entrench the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, continue a war of genocide against the Palestinian people, and undermine their right to statehood, in clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law.

During the call, Minister Abdelatty reviewed Egypt’s ongoing mediation efforts in coordination with the sisterly State of Qatar and the United States to secure a deal that would ensure the release of hostages and a number of Palestinian prisoners, halt bloodshed, and guarantee full and unconditional access to aid.

The conversation also covered broader regional developments, with the two ministers exchanging views on the situations in Sudan, Syria, and Lebanon. They agreed to maintain close coordination between Cairo and Riyadh and underscored the importance of joint Arab action to strengthen regional security and stability.