(MENAFN) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has invited German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to attend the forthcoming signing ceremony of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, according to an official statement released Friday.

The invitation was extended during a phone conversation in which the two leaders discussed Cairo’s diplomatic efforts to halt the ongoing Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza.

The initial phase of the ceasefire—brokered by Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar, with U.S. oversight—officially took effect Friday, aiming to end two years of continuous Israeli strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip.

During the call, Sisi outlined key components of the ceasefire deal and the roadmap for the next stage of its implementation, the Egyptian presidency said.

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

While the date of the signing ceremony remains unconfirmed, Sisi previously expressed hope to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump to Egypt for the event. On Thursday, he voiced his intention to host Trump at the signing.

Merz commended Egypt's pivotal role in securing the ceasefire, stating that it was instrumental in advancing regional stability. He added that “Germany’s support for the agreement to serve lasting peace in the region” remains firm.

The leaders also discussed bolstering bilateral relations and deepening Egypt’s cooperation with the European Union, the presidency noted.

Earlier this week, Trump announced that both Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a comprehensive 20-point plan he proposed on September 29. The deal includes a full ceasefire, the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees, and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip.

Under phase two of the plan, a new governance structure for Gaza would be established—excluding Hamas—and a multinational security force, made up of Palestinians and troops from Arab and Islamic countries, would be formed. The agreement also envisions the full disarmament of Hamas.

Since the beginning of the Israeli assault in October 2023, nearly 67,200 Palestinians—primarily women and children—have been killed, according to local health authorities. The sustained attacks have rendered much of Gaza uninhabitable.

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