CAIRO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Palestinian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Mustafa exchanged views and assessments on Wednesday regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

During a phone conversation, the two sides addressed the recent developments in the Palestinian arena in light of the ongoing Israeli "violations of international law and international humanitarian law," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Abdelatty reviewed the efforts made by Egypt, in cooperation with Qatar, to achieve calm and consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza, the statement said.

The Palestinian prime minister appreciated the Egyptian efforts, hoping that they would pave the way for holding the Cairo Conference for the Reconstruction of Gaza in April.

A phased ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took effect on Jan. 19. Its first phase includes the release of 33 hostages and about 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. All remaining living hostages are expected to be released in the second phase in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and more Palestinian detainees freed.

However, Israel refused to move to the second phase and resumed air and ground assaults on Gaza last week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel renewed military operations because Hamas rejected offers to extend the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement. Enditem

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