Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call on Monday to advance efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and to plan for Gaza’s post-war reconstruction, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday.

Abdelatty updated Fidan on Egypt’s mediation efforts, conducted alongside Qatar and the United States, to secure a ceasefire, facilitate a hostage and detainee exchange, and ensure sustained delivery of humanitarian, medical, and shelter aid to Gaza’s civilians. He also outlined preparations for an international reconstruction conference in Cairo, set to convene once a ceasefire is achieved.

The ministers stressed the importance of unified international support for an Arab-Islamic plan to drive Gaza’s early recovery and long-term rebuilding. Both reaffirmed their opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians and reiterated their commitment to a two-state solution, based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with an independent Palestinian state and East Jerusalem as its capital.

The call coincided with a breakthrough in negotiations, as Hamas released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, a move Egypt and Qatar hailed as a potential catalyst for reviving stalled ceasefire talks. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that an Israeli delegation would travel to Doha, Qatar, for discussions on a new ceasefire and hostage deal, though it emphasized that military operations in Gaza would continue during the talks.

Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza, which resumed on March 18 after the collapse of a January ceasefire and a complete aid blockade starting March 2, has killed at least 2,780 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. The escalating humanitarian crisis has spurred regional powers to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting truce and address Gaza’s urgent recovery needs.

The Egypt-Turkey dialogue reflects a broader push for coordinated action to stabilize the region and lay the foundation for a just resolution to the Palestinian issue. (ILKHA)