Ahead of the negotiations on the Gaza war, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi praised US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.

Al-Sissi thanked Trump on Monday in a televised speech for helping to initiate a ceasefire after “two years of war, genocide, killing and destruction.”

A ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, and steps toward recognising a Palestinian state show that “we are on the right path to lasting peace and lasting stability,” he said.

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Al-Sissi spoke on the occasion of Oct. 6, which Egypt celebrates as Armed Forces Day.

On that day in 1973, Egypt and Syria, along with Arab allies, invaded neighbouring Israel to reclaim territory lost in the 1967 war.

Egypt and Israel finally made peace in 1979.

In view of the war in the neighbouring Gaza Strip, Egypt was also concerned about its own security.

The talks in the Egyptian town of Sharm el-Sheikh were initially expected to focus on the release of the remaining 48 hostages in return for a ceasefire.

The ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Issues such as the disarmament of Hamas and an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza are still controversial. (dpa/NAN)