Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdel-Aati underscored the necessity of the full implementation of the second phase of the US President Donald Trump’s plan, stressing the need to maintain focus on its commitments despite the ongoing regional escalation.
Minister Abdel-Aati made these remarks during his meeting on Wednesday with Nikolay Mladenov, the High Representative for Gaza.
The meeting discussed the latest developments in the Strip and efforts to advance the implementation of the second phase of the plan.
According to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, minister Abdel Aati reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for the High Representative’s role in overseeing the implementation of the second phase. He emphasised the importance of ensuring that current regional tensions do not divert attention from fulfilling all agreed commitments.
Minister Abdel-Aati also stressed the necessity of keeping the Rafah crossing open in both directions and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid to Gaza as part of efforts to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people.
He further highlighted the temporary and transitional nature of the second-phase arrangements, calling for the National Committee for Gaza Administration to begin operating from within the Strip across all areas. This, he said, would strengthen its ability to manage daily affairs and pave the way for the Palestinian Authority to resume its responsibilities.
The minister also underlined the urgency of deploying an international stabilisation force to monitor the ceasefire, pointing to Egypt’s ongoing efforts to train Palestinian police personnel in support of establishing a stable security environment during the transitional period.
He stressed the importance of all parties adhering to the full implementation of second-phase commitments, including Israeli withdrawal, in a manner that would enable the launch of early recovery projects and facilitate transition toward a comprehensive and coordinated reconstruction process that addresses the needs of Gaza’s population.
The meeting also addressed the deteriorating situation in the West Bank. In this respect, minister Abdel-Aati condemned the escalating settler violence, continued annexation policies and settlement expansion in violation of international law, the Knesset’s approval of legislation concerning the execution of prisoners, and the ongoing closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque, warning that such developments risk to inflame tensions on the ground.
For his part, Mladenov commended Egypt’s pivotal role in supporting regional security and stability, praising its efforts to de-escalate tensions and contain the crisis in Gaza and the wider Middle East. He also stressed the importance of continued coordination with Egypt in the period ahead to advance implementation of the plan’s second phase.
