Egypt and Jordan called on Israel to withdraw from Gaza and implement provisions of US President Donald Trump's plan. The two countries stressed 'the importance of an immediate halt to all military actions that would expand the circle of conflict in the region.'

This came during a telephone call on Monday between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, during which they discussed regional developments and ways to de-escalate and restore security and stability in the region.

Abdelatty expressed Egypt's condemnation of the Iranian attacks that targeted a number of areas in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, affirming 'Egypt's full solidarity with brotherly Jordan and its support for all measures it takes to maintain its security, stability, and protect its sovereignty,' stressing 'categorical rejection of any aggression affecting the security and sovereignty of Arab states.'

According to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers discussed regional and international efforts aimed at de-escalation and containing rising tensions, where they stressed 'the necessity of prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions and intensifying coordination and consultation among Arab states to contribute to maintaining the security and stability of the region and preserving the capabilities of its peoples.'

Egypt constantly affirms its commitment to 'the unity of Arab destiny' in facing the region's crises, following renewed Iranian attacks on Arab states.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, Abdelatty and Safadi stressed 'the importance of completing the implementation of all obligations of the first phase of the US president's plan, and ensuring the flow of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid to the sector without obstacles, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, and agreeing on arrangements for the second phase, including the Israeli withdrawal from the sector.'

Tents of Palestinian displaced persons in Gaza City last February (AFP)

Egypt repeatedly stresses 'the necessity of stopping the ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement and attempts to expand the Israeli army's control in the Gaza Strip.' It emphasizes the importance of 'completing the full implementation of the obligations of the first phase of the US president's peace plan.'

Trump proposed his peace plan for the Gaza Strip last September, before it reinforced a ceasefire agreement the following month. In mid-January, Washington announced the transition to the second phase of the plan to end the war in the strip, through provisions including a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, disarmament of the Hamas movement, and the deployment of an international force to achieve stability.

During the telephone call on Monday, Abdelatty and Safadi expressed their rejection and condemnation of the ongoing Israeli violations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The Egyptian Foreign Minister reiterated 'his country's full support for the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city of Jerusalem as a fundamental pillar for preserving the identity of the holy city and safeguarding its historical heritage.'

According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the two ministers agreed to 'continue close coordination and consultation between the two brotherly countries, and enhance existing cooperation mechanisms to serve common interests and achieve the aspirations of the two brotherly peoples, in addition to continued coordination on various regional and international issues of common interest.'