Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham have called for intensified diplomatic efforts to contain escalating tensions in the Middle East and prevent the conflict from spreading, Egypt's presidency said on Tuesday.

The two leaders discussed the regional situation during a telephone conversation on Monday evening, initiated by Burnham, according to a presidential statement. Their talks focused on tensions involving Iran and the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, and also covered bilateral ties between Egypt and the United Kingdom.

Gaza ceasefire and aid

On Palestine, both leaders called on all parties to honour the Gaza ceasefire agreement and ensure its full implementation. They also stressed the importance of guaranteeing the "full, safe and unhindered delivery" of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, while accelerating early recovery and reconstruction efforts, the presidency said.

El-Sisi called for renewed international efforts to revive the political process and establish an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, describing this as the only path to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Regional diplomacy

The call comes as diplomatic efforts continue to contain the crisis around Iran and to keep the Gaza ceasefire in place. Egypt has played a central mediating role in the region, including helping to broker the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The conversation was reported by Qatar News Agency via Fana News and by Middle East News Digest, both citing the Egyptian presidency's statement.