ANKARA

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday discussed the situation in Gaza as fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian group Hamas continued for a second day on Sunday.

During the phone call, Abbas stressed "the necessity of working with all parties to ensure an end to the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people everywhere," according to the official Wafa news agency.

The Palestinian president also underlined the importance to keep the delivery of "relief and medical aid to the people in Gaza."

Al-Sisi, for his part, told Abbas that he is exerting efforts with "all international and regional parties to stop the ongoing escalation and ensure the arrival of aid to the Gaza Strip."

Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Saturday, saying the surprise, multifront attack on Israel was in response to storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. It said it fired rockets and captured many Israelis.

In retaliation, the Israeli army initiated Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

At least 417 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 2,200 others injured in the attacks, according to medical sources in Gaza, while the Israeli death toll climbed to over 700.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar