SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Wednesday that his country has always supported a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sisi made the remarks at a meeting with the press at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on the sidelines of the ongoing week-long World Youth Forum.
The president noted that the end of the decade-long internal split in Palestine is an important step for efforts to advance peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
"We believe that achieving an internal Palestinian reconciliation will help pave the way for the resumption of peace talks," he said.
In October, Palestinian rival movements Fatah and Hamas agreed to end their long-time rift following talks mediated by Egypt in Cairo.
Under the agreement, the consensus government under Fatah will have full control of Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip by Dec. 1.
Their reconciliation will also reduce pressure in the Gaza Strip and curb extremism there, added Sisi.
Sisi also reaffirmed that Egypt will not give up any land in the Sinai Peninsula as part of the so-called deal of the century, a proposal promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Several senior Egyptian officials have expressed objection to the idea of ceding part of Sinai for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Egypt has been working with other international players to bring the Palestinians and the Israelis to the negotiation table to end their seven-decade conflict.
