Egypt, Greece, the Netherlands FMs discuss tension in Gaza Strip

CAIRO - Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Monday received two phone calls from his Greek and Dutch counterparts over the violence in the Palestinian lands, said the country's Foreign Ministry in a statement.

"Talks with the Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and the Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok have tackled the escalated tensions in the Gaza Strip," the statement said.

The three top diplomats also discussed the exerted efforts to reach a truce there.

The Greek and Dutch foreign ministers hailed the role and sincere efforts of Egypt to reach a cease-fire and end the current stalemate, it added.

On Sunday, Shoukry said Egypt will spare no effort to reach the Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire.

He added that the two-state solution is still the only viable option to end the ongoing conflicts.

Tensions started in Jerusalem last month and expanded to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip amid outrage of a forced eviction of Palestinians from their home in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem.

The situation further escalated on May 10 when hundreds of Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli police in the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound.

Hamas said at least 197 Palestinians have been killed, including 58 children, in the Israeli airstrikes. Israel said 10 Israelis were killed and more than 100 others injured by rockets fired by Palestinian militants.