(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry said here on Tuesday his country and the US have the same views on a necessary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, citing the need to "put an end to the bloodshed and killing of innocent children".
At a joint press conference here with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry, Shukry welcomed Kerry's efforts and the US Administration's support to implement the Egyptian initiative for a ceasefire truce in Gaza.
Shukry called for ending the sufferings of Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, praising a U.S. pledge of USD 47 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza, announced by Kerry when he arrived in the Egyptian capital late Monday.
The top Egyptian diplomat added that he had talks with Kerry on regional issues of mutual interest.
He said Egyptian government had no plans to alter the terms of its truce proposal, which was accepted by Israel but spurned by Hamas.
For his part, Kerry thanked Egypt, the UN, US and concerned parties for their efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
"We are continuing to work, and there is more work to be done," Kerry said.
He said that the initiative is the framework to end fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
"There is a framework ... to end the violence and that framework is the Egyptian initiative," Kerry told the conference.
He added hundreds of civilians died due to the conflict between Hamas and Israel, so there is a work with the international community to stop the bloodshed there.
At least 600 Palestinian people, most of whom are children and civilians, were killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli warplanes and artillery shelling. Roughly 27 of Israeli troops were killed.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.