Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed on Wednesday the need for the international community to take a decisive stance to earnestly pursue an immediate ceasefire and enforce a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip.
According to Egypt's presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy, al-Sisi received a phone call from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak where the two leaders discussed the recent developments pertaining to the Israeli military escalation in the Gaza Strip.
Sisi underlined that a resolution to the Palestinian issue requires the implementation of a two-state solution, stressing that military solutions pose a threat to the overall security and stability of the region.
He also pointed out that Egypt is making significant efforts to de-escalate the situation and prevent bloodshed and to deliver humanitarian aid to assist the people of Gaza.
Sunak also welcomed the opening of the Rafah crossing to allow British and other foreign nationals and injured Palestinians to leave Gaza, his office said.
The two men also discussed urgent work to increase the humanitarian aid flow to Gaza.
Sunak's office said the two officials "discussed diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, prevent escalation in the wider Middle East, and achieve long-term peace and prosperity for the Palestinian people."
At least 320 foreign passport holders crossed on Wednesday to Egypt from Gaza in the first batch of evacuations from the besieged enclave, Reuters quoted three Egyptian security sources and a Palestinian official as saying.
The Palestinian official on the Gaza side of the border said the foreign passport holders departed the strip on six buses. A first list of about 500 foreigners or dual nationals had been cleared to leave Gaza, with evacuations expected to continue in the days to come.
