Cairo: Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister, Badr Abdel Atty and US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, discussed over the phone Wednesday joint efforts to maintain the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and push ahead the implementation of the second phase of the deal, along with restoring calm and reducing escalation.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement highlighted that Abdel Atty discussed the Gaza reconstruction plan, which has been approved by Arab and Muslim countries and supported by the European Union, Japan, and other international partners.

The statement added that the phone conversation also went over the plan's effective implementation, including its security and governance aspects. The Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister highlighted his country's eagerness to hold an international conference on the reconstruction of Gaza, in cooperation with the United Nations and the Palestinian government, in addition to other international actors.

Abdel Atty emphasized the urgent need for the delivery of humanitarian, medical, and shelter aid to the Gaza Strip, the alleviation of the suffering of the Palestinian people, and finding a political horizon that leads to a final settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He expressed Egypt's aspiration to enhance coordination with the US administration to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, underscoring the importance of stepping up efforts for de-escalation in the region and averting conflict spillover, given its serious consequences for the peoples of the region.

For his part, Witkoff praised the strong ties that bind Egypt and the US, as well as Egypt's vital role in achieving security, peace, and stability in the region.