Cairo: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty held a phone call today with US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to discuss regional developments, chiefly the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip, as well as the latest on the Iranian nuclear program.

According to Qatar News Agency, Abdel Aaty reviewed the latest updates regarding the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. He stressed the critical importance of Israel responding positively to the proposal and implementing its elements to help resolve the current crisis, preserve the lives of hostages, ease the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, and ensure sufficient humanitarian aid reaches the population, who are facing what he described as a systematic policy of starvation.

He highlighted the proposed sixty-day truce period as a chance to engage in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and establishing the foundations for a just resolution to the Palestinian issue.

On the Iranian nuclear program, Abdel Aaty reiterated Egypt's position calling for de-escalation in the Middle East and rejecting any military solutions for this or other regional crises. He noted that Egypt has been engaged in efforts to revive the negotiating track to bolster regional and global security and stability.

He also underlined the importance of continued joint efforts between Egypt and the United States to achieve peace, security, and stability in the Middle East. This, he said, aligns with President Donald Trump's vision for fostering peace in the region and the wider world, and for bringing to an end decades of ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.