Egypt, EU discuss efforts to implement Gaza ceasefire deal

CAIRO, Egypt

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed efforts to implement a Gaza ceasefire agreement with a meeting in Cairo with the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica.

A presidency statement said the European official heard Sisi’s views about developments in Gaza, including Egyptian efforts to implement the ceasefire agreement, exchange hostages and prisoners, bring humanitarian aid into the enclave and start rebuilding the area without displacing Palestinians.

The meeting underlined the importance of the EU support for efforts to restore calm, achieve stability, and establish a Palestinian state, as it is the only guarantee for achieving lasting peace in the region, the statement said.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly proposed to “take over” Gaza and resettle its population to develop it into a tourist destination, an idea vehemently rejected by the Arab world and many other nations, who say it amounts to ethnic cleansing.

Egypt said it has prepared a plan to rebuild Gaza after the Israeli war without displacing its Palestinian inhabitants.

The Israeli government stopped the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza on Sunday, just hours after the expiry of the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.

Netanyahu had sought to extend the initial exchange phase to secure the release of as many Israeli captives as possible without offering anything in return or fulfilling the military and humanitarian obligations of the agreement.

The Palestinian group Hamas has refused to proceed under these conditions, insisting that Israel abide by the terms of the ceasefire and immediately start negotiations for the second phase, which includes a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a complete halt to the war.

The ceasefire agreement has halted Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 48,380 victims, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.