Joe Biden Calls President Sisi To Thank Egypt For Helping To Ease Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

Illustration of an Israeli army patrol. (Wikimedia Commons/Justin McIntosh)

JAKARTA - U.S. President Joe Biden called Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi on Monday local time, to discuss a number of matters related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The Egyptian Presidential Office said that in talks President Biden and President Sisi discussed strengthening the ceasefire in Gaza, urgent humanitarian aid to the line, and international reconstruction efforts,

The two leaders also discussed ways to revive the peace process between Israel and Palestina, after the latest wave of violence between the two sides, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement.

Egypt has again mediated a ceasefire between Palestinian Hamas militants and Israel, which is now entering its fourth day, after 11 days of armed clashes.

"President Biden made clear his country's determination to work to restore calm and restore such conditions in the Palestinian territories, as well as coordination efforts with all international partners to support the Palestinian Authority and reconstruction," the statement said, according to Reuters on Tuesday, May 25.

In Washington, the White House said in a statement that President Biden in the call thanked Egypt for its successful diplomacy and coordination with the United States to end hostilities.

"President Biden and President Sisi discussed the urgent need to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza and support rebuilding efforts in a way that benefits the people there and not Hamas," the White House said.

It was President Biden's second call to President Sisi in as many days to discuss the conflict. But this time the discussions expanded to bilateral relations and some regional issues, including Libya and Iraq.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Monday night began his visit to the region, to talk about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The State Department said Blinken would focus on ensuring a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Blinken will travel to Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo, and Amman on Thursday and meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah, and other top officials.