Sisi calls on Lapid to take immediate steps to improve the living situation in Gaza

 Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi called on Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Monday to build on the current calm with the Gaza Strip , and cut off any attempt to escalate the situation.

In a statement on his official page on the social networking site (Facebook), Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said that President Sisi received a phone call this evening from Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

During the call, Lapid expressed "great appreciation for the successful mediation role played by Egypt over the past few days, led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to reach a quick ceasefire, and to stabilize and restore calm in the Gaza Strip, which consolidates Egypt´s role as a fundamental pillar of stability in the Middle East."

For his part, President El-Sisi affirmed that "Egypt has made unremitting and focused efforts and endeavors to contain the situation on the ground, and to prevent the expansion of the confrontation and the increase in military actions."

Al-Sisi added that "there is great importance to build on the current calm, cut off any attempt to tense the situation, whether in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, and take immediate steps to improve the living situation in the Strip to alleviate the deteriorating conditions in it, speed up the improvement of economic relations with the Palestinian Authority, and support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He added, "Egypt looks forward to renewing the hope of the Palestinian people in achieving the desired peace and obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international references, which imposes the inevitability of ending the cycle of violence and repeated escalation, in an effort to open the door to opportunities and efforts for settlement and achieve stability and calm, in preparation for launching the peace process between the two peoples." Palestinian and Israeli, which would change the reality of the entire region.”

The ceasefire agreement entered into force last night at 11:30 Al Quds time between Israel and the Islamic Jihad movement, with Egyptian mediation, to end the three-day Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, which led to the death of 44 Palestinians and the injury of 47 Israelis.