(MENAFN) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi extended an invitation to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday to participate in the signing ceremony of a Gaza ceasefire agreement.

This invitation was made during a telephone conversation where both leaders discussed Cairo’s initiatives aimed at ending the Israeli conflict in Gaza.

The initial phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect on Friday, marking an end to two years of Israeli military actions in Gaza.

The deal was brokered through mediation efforts by Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar, with oversight from the United States.

According to a statement from the presidency, Sisi reviewed the specifics of the ceasefire arrangement and the steps needed to implement the subsequent phase.

He highlighted the significance of “preserving the role and status of the Palestinian Authority and creating conditions conducive for establishing a Palestinian state in accordance with international legitimacy.”

Although Egypt has yet to announce the exact date for the signing event, Sisi expressed his anticipation on Thursday of hosting US President Donald Trump in Egypt to attend the ceremony.

Chancellor Merz commended Egypt’s crucial contribution to achieving the agreement and reiterated Germany’s support for the deal as a pathway to lasting peace in the region.

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