Egyptian, Jordanian Leaders Call On Israel To De-Escalate Situation In Gaza

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah II on Friday warned that if Israel does not de-escalate its military actions in the Gaza Strip, the conflict could jeopardize regional security and stability.

The two leaders spoke on the phone about the latest developments in Israel's ongoing onslaught on the Gaza Strip, said a statement issued by Egyptian Presidency spokesman Ahmad Fahmi.

Fahmi said both leaders discussed efforts to bring additional humanitarian aid into Gaza in light of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

Separately, the official Egyptian State Information Service (SIS) said the two leaders "stressed the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue as the basis of any efforts to restore peace in the region."The phone conversation came as delegations from Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and Israel reportedly met in Paris on Friday to discuss a cease-fire in Gaza and a hostage swap deal.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas. The ensuing Israeli war has killed more than 29,500 people and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

For the first time since its creation in 1948, Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, the highest judicial body of the United Nations, over its Gaza war.

An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar -