French President Nicolas Sarkozy was hosting Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak on Monday amid preparations for an aid conference for the Gaza Strip and diplomatic efforts for a more durable truce in the Palestinian territory. The two leaders helped push Israel toward ending a three-week offensive in Gaza last month meant to halt years of rocket fire on southern Israeli communities. Gaza's Hamas rulers announced their own cease-fire the same day. Egypt is hosting an aid conference March 2 meant to raise money for rebuilding Gaza, after the offensive shattered infrastructure in the territory.