Cairo: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty urged intensified efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza as he spoke to his US counterpart Antony Blinken over phone on Wednesday. According to Anadolu Agency, Abdelatty received a phone call from Blinken to review ongoing developments in the Middle East. Abdelatty stressed "the importance to intensify the international and regional efforts to achieve an immediate cease-fire along with the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza in a sustainable manner." The call for action comes amid escalating violence in the region, where Israel has killed more than 44,000 people in Gaza following a cross-border incursion by Palestinian group Hamas on October 7, 2023. This military campaign and subsequent blockade have resulted in severe food shortages, rendering the enclave almost uninhabitable. Furthermore, last month saw the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusin g them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the region. In addition to discussions on Gaza, the top diplomats also addressed the recent developments in Syria. Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's position on the necessity of respecting Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the importance of protecting civilians from ongoing conflicts. Recently, anti-regime groups in Syria have gained control over Aleppo and are making advances in other regions. The conversation also touched on the situation in Sudan, where Abdelatty emphasized the need for humanitarian aid amid the ongoing conflict. Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in fighting between the army and the RSF paramilitary group, leading to widespread devastation in the country.