Erdoğan, el-Sissi discuss Gaza war in phone call

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke over the phone with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, on Dec. 20 to address the ongoing developments in Gaza and the broader Middle East.

The leaders deliberated on Israel's ongoing attacks on the Palestinian territories and the imperative of delivering humanitarian aid to the embattled region, as disclosed by Erdoğan's office.

During the call, Erdoğan told the Egyptian president the "significance of unity among Islamic countries" in pursuing efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire. He expressed his hopes for continued collaboration on this front.

Meanwhile, Erdoğan also extended his congratulations to el-Sissi for securing third term in office during the meeting. The Turkish leader voiced optimism, stating his "hope that the new period will be auspicious for Türkiye-Egypt relations."

The outcome of the Dec. 10-12 poll was widely expected as it granted the 69-year-old leader his third and, according to the Egyptian constitution, final term in office, starting in April and set to run for six years.

His victory comes despite a painful economic crisis, marked by a currency plunge and runaway household prices, and heightened regional tensions sparked by the Israel-Hamas war in neighbouring Gaza.

Annual inflation is running at 36.4 percent, sending up prices of some food staples by the week and hurting household budgets in the country of nearly 106 million.

Even before the current economic crisis, about two thirds of Egypt's population were living on or below the poverty line.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 18 also congratulated el-Sissi on his "convincing victory," according to the Kremlin.

The results are "a clear indication of the widespread recognition of your merits in addressing the pressing socio-economic and foreign policy challenges facing Egypt," Putin said in a message to el-Sissi.