(MENAFN) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi extended an invitation to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday to attend the signing ceremony of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The invitation came during a phone call where the two leaders discussed Egypt's role in mediating the ceasefire and ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement came into force on Friday, halting two years of intense Israeli military actions against Gaza. The deal, brokered through the efforts of Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar, with U.S. oversight, marks a significant step towards peace, although the broader issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain unresolved.

Sisi reviewed the details of the agreement during the call, stressing the importance of preserving the role of the Palestinian Authority and creating conditions for a Palestinian state based on international law. The exact date for the signing ceremony has not been set, but Sisi expressed hope that U.S. President Donald Trump would attend.

Chancellor Merz, in turn, praised Egypt’s critical role in brokering the ceasefire and reiterated Germany’s support for the agreement, which aims to bring lasting peace to the region. The conversation also touched on strengthening bilateral ties between Egypt and Germany and Egypt’s relationship with the European Union.

On Wednesday, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a 20-point plan to bring a ceasefire to Gaza. This includes the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the establishment of a new governance mechanism in Gaza without Hamas’ participation.

The second phase of the plan involves the creation of a security force consisting of Palestinians and troops from Arab and Islamic countries, along with the disarmament of Hamas. The ceasefire is expected to address some of the immediate humanitarian concerns, but challenges remain for a lasting peace agreement.

Since the start of the Israeli attacks in October 2023, nearly 67,200 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, have been killed, and the Gaza Strip has been left largely uninhabitable.

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