Since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza, Egypt has not stopped exerting any effort to support the Palestinian people, intensifying its unlimited support for the Palestinians on all levels (political, humanitarian, field, and security), focusing on the following:
Political Efforts:
– Through various contacts, meetings, conferences, and press conferences, the Egyptian political leadership emphasized its categorical rejection of Israeli plans to drive Palestinians out of their lands, either voluntarily or forcibly, highlighting the Egyptian vision that the displacement of Palestinians is a red line.
– Egypt hosted the first international summit on the developments in Gaza (Cairo Peace Summit) on October 21, 2023, with broad Arab and international participation, and in response to the positive response from participating countries, sending a clear message to the world about Egypt’s firm stance on the crisis.
– Egypt hosted an Arab-Islamic summit in Cairo in March 2025, where agreement was reached on the Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of Gaza.
– Egypt presented arguments before the International Court of Justice condemning Israeli practices in Palestinian territories, hinting at Egypt’s intention to join the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel before the court.
– Maintaining contacts with all regional and international parties since the beginning of the crisis to rally international support for the Egyptian vision in this regard (rejecting any displacement, holding Israel responsible as an occupying power, supporting the Palestinian Authority to resume administration of the Gaza Strip after the war…).
– Intensifying Egyptian efforts to unify the Palestinian front in the face of Israeli plans aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause.
In this context, Egypt hosted Hamas-Fatah meetings in October 2024 to support national reconciliation and complete the necessary arrangements for the “day after” phase. An Egyptian proposal to form a support committee from the international community to administer the Gaza Strip was also discussed.
– Emphasizing the need to make post-war efforts to enable the resumption of the political process between Palestinians and Israelis.
It is necessary to provide a suitable atmosphere based on accurate measures to enable the implementation of the two-state solution, as the only means to achieve stability in the Middle East. It is noted that any settlement limited to the future status of the Gaza Strip will not lead to peace, given the Palestinians’ loss of hope in a political settlement to their cause.
Negotiations for a Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas:
– Thanks to Egyptian efforts in contacting the Israeli side and Palestinian factions, and in coordination with Qatar and the United States, a 7-day humanitarian truce was reached in November 2023.
The truce witnessed the release of 80 Israelis, 3 bodies, and 22 people of other nationalities. In return, Israel released 240 Palestinian women and children from its prisons, and expanded the access of Gaza residents to humanitarian aid.
– Egypt intensified its efforts, in coordination with mediators (Qatar and the United States), to reach an agreement for a ceasefire, which was concluded in a Palestinian-Israeli agreement on January 19, 2025.
The agreement was divided into three phases, each lasting 42 days, during which 33 Israeli hostages were released in exchange for the release of 1924 Palestinian prisoners. During this period, 600 aid trucks were allowed to enter Gaza daily, Israel gradually withdrew from some areas in Gaza, and the Rafah crossing was reopened to allow the exit of 50 Palestinian wounded daily.
However, the Israeli side obstructed the other phases of the agreement through its unilateral military operations against the Gaza Strip on March 18, 2025, leading to the resumption of fighting there.
– In April 2025, mediators successfully persuaded Hamas to release the American hostage Alexander Aidan unconditionally as a gesture of goodwill from Hamas to prove its seriousness in seeking a ceasefire in Gaza, in response to the mediators’ efforts.
– On August 15, 2025, mediators presented a proposal that included a temporary ceasefire for 60 days, involving the release of 10 hostages and 18 bodies, and the distribution of aid according to the mechanism of the January 19, 2025 agreement, with the start of new negotiations between the two parties regarding the necessary arrangements for a permanent ceasefire.
Since the first day, mediators and the United States implicitly ensured the sustainability of the ceasefire during the 60 days, and President Trump implicitly ensured the continuation of serious negotiations for an additional period until a comprehensive agreement is reached, which pressured Hamas to accept it. However, the restrictive conditions set by Israel obstructed the proposal.
_Continuation of Egyptian efforts to resume negotiations after the Israeli strike against the Hamas delegation in Doha on September 9, 2025._
Field Humanitarian Efforts:
– Egyptian efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza recently through coordination with international relief agencies to enable the flow of required aid, which reaches Al-Arish Airport in northern Sinai (Egypt provides about 80% of humanitarian aid).
– Intensifying contacts with the Israeli side since May 8, 2024, after taking control of the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side and strengthening its presence in the Philadelphi Route.
The Egyptian stance in this regard aimed to increase pressure to raise the rate of aid entering the Strip through the Karm Abu Salem crossing, while seeking to open all crossings with Gaza to increase the number of trucks entering daily (250 trucks per day 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 necessary arrangements for starting reconstruction.
– Establishing Egyptian camps for displaced Palestinians within Gaza (in Deir al-Balah, Rafah, and Khan Yunis) to provide aid and care for them.
– Intensifying pressure on Israel to reopen Gaza crossings, lift the blockade, and remove any obstacles hindering the entry of daily aid.
