CAIRO, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a phone conversation on Monday, during which they discussed the recent developments in Gaza.
The two sides exchanged views on the joint efforts of the two countries and the United States on resuming the ceasefire agreement in the Strip, the release of detainees and hostages, and the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
They also discussed upcoming moves for implementing the Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, as well as preparations for an upcoming international conference for Gaza reconstruction to be hosted by Egypt, read the statement.
The two sides welcomed Hamas' announcement of releasing Israeli-U.S. hostage Edan Alexander from Gaza on Monday, which they said was an encouraging sign for a return to negotiations and gave impetus to the mediation efforts for achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region, read the statement.
Israel halted the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2, following the expiration of the first phase of a January ceasefire agreement with Hamas. It resumed attacks on Gaza on March 18, which have so far killed 2,749 Palestinians.
On Monday, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said it will release Alexander, a U.S.-born soldier serving in the Israeli army, who was abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, in a Hamas-led raid on southern Israel that resulted in the kidnapping of 251 people and the killing of about 1,200 others.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said an Israeli delegation will travel to Qatar's Doha on Tuesday for talks on a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, although the talks will take place "only under fire." ■
