El-Sisi, Pezeshkian discuss regional de-escalation, Gaza ceasefire

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English
31 Mar 2025 18:31

The Iranian and Egyptian presidents have reaffirmed their commitment to fostering stability in the region and exploring bilateral cooperation.

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Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in a December photo in Cairo, Egypt (Tehran Times)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reaffirmed Cairo’s commitment to reducing regional tensions and preventing the expansion of conflict, ensuring stability and security for all nations in the region.

El-Sisi made the remarks during a phone call on Monday with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, who expressed gratitude for Egypt’s ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and address broader regional issues, according to Egyptian presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shinawy.

Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of fostering brotherhood and cooperation among Islamic nations, calling for greater unity in confronting oppression and injustice more effectively.

The two leaders also exchanged Eid al-Fitr greetings, extending wishes of prosperity and blessings to their countries and the wider Muslim world.

Egypt's efforts to revive Gaza ceasefire

On March 5, Arab leaders approved a plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority, positioning it as an alternative to Trump's widely criticized proposal to assume control of the territory and displace its population.

They announced the creation of a trust fund to finance Gaza’s reconstruction and urged international support for the initiative.

Later, on March 24, following "Israel's" revival of the genocide in Gaza, Egypt put forward a new proposal to restore the Gaza ceasefire deal, Reuters reported, citing security sources.

According to the sources, Egypt’s plan calls for Hamas to release five Israeli captives each week, with "Israel" committing to the second phase of the ceasefire after the first week.

Both Hamas and the US have agreed to the proposal, the security sources stated.

The proposal also included a timeline for releasing all captives in exchange for a schedule outlining "Israel’s" complete withdrawal from Gaza, with US guarantees backing the agreement, the sources added.