Egypt expressed its willingness on Monday to join a potential international peacekeeping force in Gaza, contingent upon a UN Security Council resolution and a “political horizon,” as ceasefire negotiations continued in Cairo.
Egypt consistently advocates for Palestinian unity under the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), which leads the Palestinian Authority and excludes Hamas.
The PA previously managed the Gaza Strip but lost control in 2007 after violent conflict with Hamas. The group’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, ignited the current conflict.
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“We are ready to assist and contribute to any international force deployed in Gaza under specific conditions,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated during a press conference with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa at the Rafah border crossing on Monday.
“Firstly, a Security Council resolution is needed, with a clear mandate and accompanying political horizon,” Abdelatty added.
“Without a political horizon, deploying forces would be pointless,” he emphasized.
Abdelatty noted that a political framework would enhance the effectiveness of international troops and aid Palestinians in achieving an independent state.
Palestinian Premier Mustafa mentioned a temporary committee would manage Gaza post-conflict, with full authority returning to the Palestinian government.
“We are not forming a new political entity in Gaza, but rather reactivating Palestinian state institutions,” he explained.
Hamas has previously supported the idea of a temporary committee for “relief efforts, reconstruction, and governance,” but it’s uncertain if they will relinquish territorial control.
In a Fox News interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared plans to take full control of Gaza but without governing it.
“We don’t intend to keep it,” he stated, expressing a desire for a “security perimeter” and to transfer control to “Arab forces that govern responsibly.”
On Monday, Hamas negotiators in Cairo received a new ceasefire proposal, a Palestinian official confirmed, with Qatar’s prime minister also present to advocate for peace.
