![Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks as he chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, on June 27, 2021 [MAYA ALLERUZZO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GettyImages-1233680040-scaled-e1624893551371.jpg?resize=1200%2C799&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi have discussed the issue of Israeli captives in Gaza, local media reported on Monday.
In their first telephone conversation, Bennett told Sisi that the Israeli soldiers detained in Gaza must be released. Efforts to consolidate a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas should continue, he added.
The Egyptian leader is reported to have reiterated the importance of the ceasefire and the need to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. According to the Jerusalem Post, the two leaders agreed to set up a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible.
READ: Israel offers Gaza reconstruction in return for 'information' on captive soldiers
Egypt and the UN are key brokers of the ceasefire, which is backed by the US and some Arab and EU countries. It came into force in the early hours of Friday, 21 May, after an 11 day Israeli military offensive.
During their phone call, both leaders spoke about several common issues, including the significance of the 1979 peace treaty, which paved the way for official relations between Cairo and Tel Aviv.
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