Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday appreciated US President Donald Trump's efforts to halt the war in Gaza and advance wider Middle East peace, describing Washington's proposals as a foundation for future negotiations. "I appreciate the efforts of the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, to stop the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip in particular, and his pursuit of peace in the Middle East at large," Sisi said in a statement. He said the proposals Trump presented during a meeting with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York earlier on Tuesday could serve as an "important foundation" for achieving peace in the period ahead. US special envoy to the region Steve Witkoff said on Wednesday that Trump had shared a 21-point Middle East peace plan with leaders from several Muslim-majority countries – including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "I think it addresses Israeli concerns and, as well, the concerns of all the neighbors in the region," Witkoff told reporters. "We're hopeful, and I might say even confident that in the coming days we'll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough." The Egyptian president's remarks underscored Cairo's enduring role as a key mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a position it has cultivated over decades of shuttle diplomacy and ceasefire brokering. Egypt has consistently warned of the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, cautioning that the prolonged war risks destabilising not only the Middle East but also Europe. In earlier statements, Sisi said that continued violence and deteriorating living conditions could fuel mass migration flows across the Mediterranean, placing additional pressure on European states already grappling with migration challenges. By highlighting these risks, Cairo has sought to frame the conflict as a global security issue, not a regional one, and has positioned itself as a bridge between Arab capitals and Washington in ongoing efforts to deescalate the crisis. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
