Ankara  - The Egyptian and Turkish presidents on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to joint efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East.

Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak speaking in Istanbul after meeting his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul and Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that the world must focus on helping Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

"We give great importance to rebuilding," Mubarak said, noting that Egypt would host an international conference next month to discuss reconstruction efforts. Mubarak also said that aid to Palestinians in Gaza must be allowed through Israeli checkpoints immediately.

Gul said Turkey was working hand-in-hand with Egypt in an attempt to both bring about a reconciliation between Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and Fatah, which controls the West Bank.

"Turkey will continue to cooperate with Egypt in every field," Gul said. "We are working together to prevent another tragedy in Gaza."

Mubarak was on Wednesday greeted in Turkey by a small protest in Istanbul's Taksim Square where demonstrators accused Egypt of siding with Israel during its recent three-week military offensive in Gaza.

Carrying Hamas flags and banners with slogans such as "Zionist guardian Mubarak, get out of Turkey", the group of around 200 protesters made a brief press statement condemning Egypt before dispersing peacefully.

The Egyptian president was scheduled to leave Turkey on Thursday. (dpa)