Egypt pledges to 'uphold Palestinian cause at UN'

Egypt will use its influence as chair of the UN Security Council in May to defend the interests of the Palestinian people, the presidency said on Monday.

The pledge, made during talks between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, that come after France called for an international conference later this month to relaunch peace talks.

Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations have been frozen since a US-brokered initiative collapsed in April 2014.

Last month, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said France would host a meeting of ministers from 20 countries on 30 May to try to relaunch the peace process.

Abbas and Sisi discussed "ways of coordinating Arab efforts and the steps that need to be taken within the UN Security Council" as Egypt holds the rotating presidency of the council for the month of May, a statement said.

The two leaders said efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be bolstered in light of regional and international initiatives, including France's decision to host a conference.

The Palestinian leadership has welcomed the French initiative but Israel opposes it, insisting that direct and unconditional negotiations with the Palestinians are the only way forward.

Ayrault has said that the aim of hosting a ministerial conference in May is to prepare for an international summit later this year that would include the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Paris's initiative comes amid tensions between Israel and the Palestinians and as a wave of violence since October last year has killed at least 200 Palestinians and 28 Israelis, according to an AFP count.

Strained relations

Relations between Hamas, the Islamist rulers of the Gaza Strip, and Egypt have been strained since the overthrow of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

Cairo regularly accuses Hamas of supporting attacks in Egypt and has largely kept its border with Gaza closed since 2013.

It has also destroyed hundreds of Palestinian tunnels used to smuggle commercial goods, cash, people and alleged weapons.

The Hamas interior ministry said 2015 was the worst year for the Rafah border crossing in recent years, saying it was open for just 21 days in total.

The Hamas interior ministry said 2015 was the worst year for the Rafah border crossing in recent years, saying it was open for just 21 days in total.

Strained relations have been further worsened by Egypt's security cooperation with Israel.

Last month, an Israeli military chief said Israel had seen "unprecedented" intelligence cooperation with Egypt and Jordan as the fight against the Islamic State group nudges them to work together more closely.

"There is a strong feeling in the region... that we have to put aside past animosities and concentrate on mutual interests and working together," said Major General Yair Golan.

Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab countries that have signed peace treaties with Israel.

Agencies contributed to this report.