Egyptian President reiterates support Palestinian-Israeli conflict solution

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has said that Cairo has always supported a "peaceful solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"The end of a decade-long internal split in Palestine is an important step for efforts to advance peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians," the President said on Wednesday at Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on the sidelines of the ongoing week-long World Youth Forum.

"We believe that achieving an internal Palestinian reconciliation will help pave the way for the resumption of peace talks."

In October, Palestinian rival movements Fatah and Hamas agreed to end their long-time rift following talks mediated by Egypt in Cairo, reports Xinhua news agency.

As per the agreement, the consensus government under Fatah will have full control of Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip by December 1.

"Their reconciliation will also reduce pressure in the Gaza Strip and curb extremism there," Sisi noted.

He also reaffirmed that Egypt will not give up any land in the Sinai Peninsula as part of the so-called deal of the century, a proposal promoted by US President Donald Trump for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Several senior Egyptian officials have expressed objection to the idea of ceding part of Sinai for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Egypt has been working with other international players to bring the Palestinians and the Israelis to the negotiation table to end their seven-decade conflict.

--IANS

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