Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East Brett McGurk (Note: Corrected name from "Steve Witkopf") held discussions on Thursday regarding developments in the Gaza Strip and ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran concerning Tehran's nuclear program.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated in a release that this occurred during a phone call between the two officials, as part of ongoing coordination and consultation between Egypt and the United States regarding Middle East developments.

The statement added that Minister Abdelatty emphasized the importance of maintaining the current negotiation track, as it represents a critical opportunity to achieve de-escalation, prevent further deterioration, and avert regional instability.

The communication also addressed joint efforts by Egypt, the United States, and Qatar to:

1. Expedite a ceasefire agreement in Gaza

2. Secure prisoner releases

3. Ensure full humanitarian access to alleviate civilian suffering in the Strip

Within this framework, Abdelatty stressed the necessity of reaching a permanent, comprehensive settlement to the conflict that fulfills regional aspirations for sustainable peace, security, and stability in the Middle East.