CAIRO, Egypt and the United States affirmed Monday consensus regarding the serious current situation in the region and called for working to prevent the expansion of the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territories.
This came during a meeting held between Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi and a visiting delegation of US Senate Democratic and Republican members, including Senator Lindsay Graham, Egypt's presidency said in a statement.
The two sides agreed on the necessity of protecting civilians and not targeting them as well as providing relief and humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, in addition to the necessity of reviving the peace process in the region, it noted.
The delegation emphasized that Egypt is the main pillar of security and stability in the Middle East and the Arab world, commending its efforts to contain the military escalation in the Palestinian territories.
The delegation also extolled Egypt's pivotal role in preserving peace and ensuring delivering urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and hosting of Cairo Summit for Peace last Saturday.
It stressed the US top priority to strategic relations with Egypt, appreciating the distinguished level of cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting further touched upon deep discussions on several regional and international issues, the statement added, noting that the delegation was keen on listening to Al-Sisi's views and evaluation regarding varied issues mainly those related to the situation in Israeli and the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, President Al-Sisi affirmed his country's firm position, which rejects the targeting of all peaceful civilians, as well policies of collective punishment and forced displacement of Palestinians from their territories.
Al-Sisi underlined the need to work seriously to halt the current escalation and intensify coordination between all active parties to bring about settling the Palestinian cause through a just and comprehensive solution which guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state, in accordance with the relevant references of international legitimacy, it made clear. (end) mm.hm
Source: Kuwait News Agency