President Sisi during meeting with USCENTCOM chief: Egypt keeping up efforts with US, Qatar for ceasefire in Gaza as prelude to reviving political process

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi reaffirmed on Monday Egypt’s unwavering efforts – alongside the United States and Qatar – to mediate a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, facilitate the release of hostages and detainees, and ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Strip.
He also emphasised that these efforts aim to achieve sustained de-escalation and lay the groundwork for reviving the political process towards a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
The statements came during President Sisi’s meeting with Lieutenant General Brad Cooper, Commander of the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) at Al-Ittihadiya Palace yesterday, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed el-Shennawy said.
Lieutenant General Abdel-Maguid Saqr, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defence and Military Production, US Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg, Colonel Jason Wimberly, Senior Defence Official at the US Embassy and Defence Attaché, and Ms Gabrielle Lamport, Senior Advisor to the USCENTCOM Commander, were present at the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, President Sisi expressed appreciation for the greetings conveyed by Lieutenant General Cooper on behalf of US President Donald Trump, reaffirming the deep-rooted historical relations between Egypt and the United States, Spokesman Ambassador Shennawy said.
The meeting reflected the strategic character of Egyptian-American relations, with President Sisi underscoring the significance of the ongoing “Bright Star 2025” joint military exercise as a testament to the close defence and security co-operation between the two countries.
The talks also focused on enhancing partnership across multiple fields in ways that benefit both peoples, while supporting ongoing coordination on regional and international matters of shared interest.
The two sides agreed on the necessity of maintaining close coordination to contain tensions in the Middle East and to bolster efforts to maintain regional security and stability – particularly amid ongoing challenges, Spokesman Shennawy said.
Regarding the developments in Gaza Strip, President Sisi stressed the importance of the mediation undertaken by Egypt, the United States and Qatar to achieve an immediate ceasefire, guarantee the release of hostages and detainees, and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Strip.
Elaborating, President Sisi emphasised that Egypt would continue its intensive efforts to realise calm and reduce tension in a sustained manner as a prelude to reviving the political process conducive to achieving durable and just peace in the Middle East, Spokesman Shennawy said.
He added that discussions also covered developments in various parts of the region, with both sides stressing the importance of continued Egyptian-American co-operation to prevent further escalation and to support durable political solutions to existing crises, thereby contributing to the realisation of peace, stability, and development across the region.