Cairo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has extended an invitation to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to attend the signing ceremony of a Gaza ceasefire agreement. This invitation was made during a phone call in which both leaders discussed Cairo's efforts to bring an end to the ongoing Israeli conflict in Gaza.

According to Anadolu Agency, the first phase of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was implemented on Friday, ending two years of Israeli attacks on Gaza. This development came about after mediation efforts by Trkiye, Egypt, and Qatar, and under the supervision of the United States. During the phone call, President Sisi reviewed the details of the ceasefire agreement and the mechanisms for implementing its next phase, as stated in a presidency release.

President Sisi emphasized the significance of maintaining the role and status of the Palestinian Authority. He expressed the necessity of creating conditions conducive to the establishment of a Palestinian state in line with international legitimacy. Although the date for the signing ceremony has yet to be announced, Sisi expressed his hope that US President Donald Trump could attend the event in Egypt.

Chancellor Merz commended Egypt's critical role in securing the deal and reiterated Germany's support for the agreement, which aims to establish lasting peace in the region. The conversation also explored ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Egypt and Germany, as well as Egypt's connections with the European Union.

President Trump announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a 20-point plan he proposed on September 29. This plan includes a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli captives in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The second phase proposes establishing a new governing mechanism in Gaza without Hamas, forming a security force comprising Palestinians and troops from Arab and Islamic countries, and disarming Hamas.

Since October 2023, the ongoing Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of nearly 67,200 Palestinians in the enclave, predominantly women and children, rendering the area uninhabitable.