FM: Egyptian ceasefire initiative is still available

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry asserted on Sunday that Egyptian Ceasefire Initiative that aims to halt Israeli aggression on Gaza is still available as a framework for reaching settlement.
In a statement to Saudi Okaz newspaper, Shoukry said that the Egyptian initiative is welcomed by all Palestinian factions as well as international actors, pointing out that Egyptian efforts are continuing in bid to reach settlement although the negotiations that lasted for three weeks in Cairo between Palestinians and Israel have failed.
He also said that Egypt is holding contacts with all concerned parties to stop aggression on Gaza and to persuade them to return back to negotiations table.
In the meantime, Shoukry hailed the relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Shoukry headed on Saturday to Jeddah to participate in Arab ministerial meeting to discuss the developments in Syria.
The meeting, including Arab member states of the "Friends of Syria Group", will probe the deteriorating situation in the Arab Mashriq region and the rise of extremist groups, mainly the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.