Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi speak to the media at the Russia-Africa summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Oct 24, 2019. (TASS NEWS AGENCY/ POOL PHOTO VIA AP)

CAIRO - Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday vowed to make joint efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

In a phone conversation, "the two presidents agreed to continue making earnest efforts to reach a ceasefire, stressing the imperative need for the international community to assume its responsibilities in this regard," the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

The Egyptian leader also updated his Russian counterpart on Cairo's ongoing efforts to push for a ceasefire "to prevent further deterioration of the miserable humanitarian situation the people in Gaza are living in"

Sisi and Putin also called for "concerted international efforts to reach a just and comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian issue, based on the two-state solution," as well as the establishment and recognition of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy.

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The Egyptian leader also updated his Russian counterpart on Cairo's ongoing efforts to push for a ceasefire "to prevent further deterioration of the miserable humanitarian situation the people in Gaza are living in."

UN resolution

On Friday, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution on that would have demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza due to a veto cast by the United States. Many countries expressed disappointment and regret over the US veto of the Gaza-related draft.

"We express great disappointment and regret that the draft has been vetoed by the US," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN.

Zhang said that two months of fighting had already caused an unprecedented amount of death and destruction. "An immediate ceasefire is the overriding prerequisite."

Riyad H. Mansour, permanent observer of Palestine to the UN, pointed out that it is beyond regrettable and disastrous that the Council was prevented from upholding its responsibility.

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Palestinians look at houses destroyed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah on Dec 9, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

Mohamed Abushahab, deputy permanent representative of the United Arab Emirates to the UN, expressed his deep disappointment with its outcome. However, he noted that this disappointing outcome will not deter his country from continuing to implore Council members to act and bring the violence in Gaza to an end.

Dmitry Polyanskiy, first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the UN, said that "today will become one of the darkest days in the Middle East" as the United States has once again blocked calls for a ceasefire.

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Nicolas de Riviere, permanent representative of France to the UN, said that he voted in favor of the draft resolution, adding that France will continue to commit to fully mobilizing the Council on all aspects of the crisis, whether it is security, humanitarian or political.

Ishikane Kimihiro, permanent representative of Japan to the UN, said his delegation voted in favor of the draft as the loss of all civilian life, whether Palestinian or Israeli, is tragic. He also expressed regret that the text had failed to be adopted.