Saudi Arabia and Egypt have reaffirmed the importance of continued coordination between the two nations to de-escalate tensions in the region and prevent further instability.
This came during a phone call between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, during which they discussed the latest developments in Gaza and the Red Sea.
According to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, the call aimed to follow up on the outcomes of recent meetings of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza, which were hosted in Cairo. The ministers also discussed the committee’s continued efforts to engage with international stakeholders in line with the resolutions of the Cairo emergency summit.
The conversation covered the ongoing Egyptian-Qatari mediation efforts to solidify a ceasefire, ensure a return to the January 19 agreement, and implement its three phases. They also coordinated with the United States and discussed the Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza.
Additionally, the two ministers consulted on the committee’s future diplomatic efforts with international parties.
During its meeting in Cairo last Sunday, which included European participation, the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee called for the resumption of the Gaza truce negotiations and the immediate implementation of the ceasefire agreement. The committee also reaffirmed its rejection of forced displacement and urged the international community to mobilize resources for the upcoming Gaza reconstruction support conference.
The committee reviewed the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, with participants expressing deep concern over the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza and the resulting large-scale civilian casualties due to recent airstrikes.
Meeting participants condemned the resumption of hostilities, attacks on civilians, and the targeting of civilian infrastructure. They called for the immediate and full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including the release of hostages and detainees.
The January 19 agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, had initially brought a temporary halt to hostilities before the recent escalation.
