Netanyahu, Sissi said to speak frequently and at length

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi have maintained close ties throughout Operation Protective Edge, Channel 10 reported on Saturday, and have engaged in frequent and lengthy telephone conversations about the situation.

Netanyahu was said to be very pleased with the relationship, particularly in light of Cairo’s central role in mediating ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Palestinian factions.

The report came amid efforts by Egypt to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table to forge a lasting ceasefire, after talks broke down following Hamas’s breach of a 24-hour truce on Tuesday.

Rocket barrages have continued unabated since then and Israel has countered with airstrikes on multiple targets in the Gaza Strip.

Dozens of rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel on Sunday morning following a weekend of heavy rocket and mortar barrages, one of which killed 4-year-old Daniel Tragerman, in a western Negev kibbutz.

A red alert warning gave the family just three seconds to reach a safe room, and the child did not make it in time.

Hundreds of people, including several government officials, attended Daniel’s funeral on Sunday morning.

Israel launched Operation Protective Edge on July 8 in an effort to bring an end to the rocket fire and to destroy a network of tunnels, dug by Hamas under the border and used by terrorists to infiltrate Israel and launch deadly attacks.