The United States has called on Egypt to exert all efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas to pave the way for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, said a White House press statement.
The statement, issued after a phone call between President Joe Biden and President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt, said that the US made it clear to Al-Sisi that the hostages’ release was a key step in achieving an immediate ceasefire and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
The statement also stressed the importance of protecting civilian lives and ensuring that Palestinians are not displaced to Egypt or any other location outside of Gaza.
The two presidents also discussed ways to increase the flow of life-saving assistance to the people of Gaza, added the statement.
The US said that it would work closely with Egypt and Qatar to ensure the full implementation of any ceasefire agreement.