Egyptian efforts vis-à-vis Gaza crisis

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OPINION

By Muhammad Abdul Malik Kalema

Ever since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza, Egypt has not stopped short of any effort to support the Palestinian people, intensifying its unlimited support to the Palestinians at all levels (political, humanitarian, and field security), focusing on the following:

Political efforts

Throughout various communications, meetings, conferences and press conferences, the Egyptian political leadership has reiterated its outright rejection of Israel's plans to push the Palestinians to either voluntarily or coercively emigrate from their land, strictly demonstrating the Egyptian view that the Palestinian displacement is a red line.

Holding the first international summit on the developments in Gaza (Cairo Peace Summit) on 21-10-2023, with broad Arab and international contributions and a positive response on the part of participating countries, hence sending a clear message to the world about the steadfast Egyptian stance towards the crisis.

Holding an Arab-Islamic summit in Cairo in March 2025, during which a consensus was reached on the Egyptian plan for Gaza reconstruction.

Egypt's argument before the International Court of Justice pinpoints Israel's practices in the Palestinian territories, while hinting at Gaza's intention to join the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel in the said court.

Maintaining communication with all regional and international parties since the beginning of the crisis to mobilise the international community in support of the Egyptian vision in that regard (rejecting any disappointment Israel taking up its responsibility as an occupying state supporting the Palestinian Authority to resume the administration of the Gaza Strip after the war…)

Intensifying the Egyptian efforts to unify the Palestinian issue ranks in the face of Israel's plots to criminate the Palestinian issue. In that respect, Egypt hosted Hamas/Fatah meetings in October 2024 to support national reconciliation and make the required arrangements for the “Day after”. An Egyptian proposal to set up a community support committee to administer the Gaza Strip was discussed.

Affirming the need for post-war efforts to enable the resumption of the political process between the Palestinians and Israel. A suitable atmosphere based on precise measures has to be provided to enable the implementation of the two-state solution, being the only means for stability in the Middle East. It is to be noted that any settlement confined to the future status of Gaza shall not lead to peace due to the fact that Palestinians have lost hope in the political settlement to their issue.

Ceasefire negotiation between Israel and Hamas:

Reaching a 7-day humanitarian pause in November 2023, thanks to the Egyptian communications with the Israeli side and the Palestinian factors in coordination with Qatar and the USA. The truce has seen the release of 80 Israelites, three bodies and 22 persons from other nationalities. In return, Israel released 240 Palestinian females and males from Israeli prisons, while expanding Gaza citizens’ access to humanitarian aid.

Intensified Egyptian efforts, in coordination with the brokers (Qatar and the USA), to reach a cease-fire agreement culminated in an Israel-Palestinian agreement on 19-10-2025. The agreement was divided into three 42-day phases during which 33 Israeli hostages were released in return for the release of 1924 Palestinian prisoners.

During the said period, 600 aid trucks were allowed into Gaza daily. Israel gradually withdrew from some areas in Gaza, and the Rafah border crossing was reopened to allow the exit of 50 injured Palestinians daily. Yet the Israeli side obstructed the other phase of the agreement via its unilateral military operation against the Gaza Strip on 18-2-2025, triggering the resumption there.

In April 2025, Brokers successfully convinced Hamas to unconditionally release the American-Israeli hostage, Alexander Edainas, as a gesture of good intentions by Hamas to prove it is seriously seeking a cease-fire in Gaza and responding to brokers’ efforts.

On August 15, 2025, the brokers presented a proposal presenting a temporary cease-fire agreement (60-day cease-fire releasing 10 hostages and 18 bodies, aid distribution based on 19-1-2025 agreement mechanism, starting negotiations from the first day between the two parties on the required agreements for a permanent cease-fire).

Brokers and the USA to guarantee the stability of the cease fire within 60 days and President Trump guaranteeing the communication of serious negotiation for an additional period issuing the comprehensive agreement which they pushed the Hamas to accept, Yet, with the incapacitating solutions put by Israel to proposal was blocked keeping up the Egyptian efforts to resume negotiations after the Israel strike against Hamas delegation in Doha on 9-9-2025.

Humanitarian and field efforts:

Egyptian efforts to mitigate the impact of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza recently, via coordinating with international relief agencies to enable the flow of the required aid, which is received in AI Arish airport in North Sinai (Egypt provides about 80% of the humanitarian aid).

Intensifying communications with the Israeli side since 8-5-2024, after it took control of the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side and reinforced its presence in the Philadelph corridor. The Egyptian stance in that regard was meant to argument pressure to increase the frequency of aid delivery into the strip via Kerm Abu Salem crossing, while seeking to open all the crossings with Gaza to increase the number of trucks entering daily (250 trucks daily as of recently).

On December 2, 2024, Egypt hosted a humanitarian conference on the situation in Gaza to provide the required aid to prevent further deterioration of the situation there, as well as to discuss the needed arrangements to start construction.

Setting up Egyptian camps for displaced Palestinians in Gaza (in Deir el Balah-Ratah-khan Younis) to offer them aid and care.

Intensifying pressure on Israel to reopen the Gaza crossing, lift the closure and remove any obstacles that prevent daily aid delivery.

The writer is a journalist working with the NRM journalist network