What Are the Outcomes of Egypt's Intelligence Chief Meeting with Palestinian V-P on Gaza Ceasefire?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Meeting between Egypt's and Palestine's leaders focused on Gaza ceasefire.
- Support for the ceasefire agreement was strongly emphasized.
- Rejection of Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories was reiterated.
- International conference on Gaza reconstruction is planned for November.
- Ongoing US diplomatic efforts are vital for peace stability.
Cairo, Oct 24 (NationPress) Egypt's Intelligence Chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad has convened with Palestinian Vice-President Hussein al-Sheikh in Cairo to deliberate on measures aimed at resolving the crisis in the Gaza Strip and to reinforce the ongoing ceasefire in the region, as reported by media outlets.
Throughout the discussions, which included Palestinian Intelligence Chief Majed Faraj, both parties concurred to "support and proceed with the implementation of the ceasefire agreement" and reiterated their opposition to the Israeli Knesset's move to annex any Palestinian territory, as stated by Egypt's Al-Qahera News on Thursday.
In parallel, Cairo is facilitating talks among various Palestinian factions to reach an agreement "within the context of the second phase of US President Donald Trump's peace initiative," the report highlighted.
Furthermore, Egypt is enhancing its communication with the US to "stabilize the ceasefire in Gaza and attain a fair and enduring peace in the region," it added.
On Tuesday, Rashad met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel to discuss the advancement of Trump's plan and the bilateral relations between the two nations, as indicated by Netanyahu's office.
The long-anticipated ceasefire, which commenced on October 10 after two years of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, was facilitated by the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, according to Xinhua.
Recently, Israel has experienced a surge in US diplomatic activity, with special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, followed by Vice-President J.D. Vance, visiting to discuss the subsequent stage of the ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel later on Thursday for similar discussions.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel's military operations have resulted in the deaths of 68,280 Palestinians and injuries to 170,375 others, as reported by Gaza's health authorities on Thursday.
Despite the ceasefire, at least 89 individuals have been killed and 317 others injured in Gaza since October 11, the authorities noted.
These meetings are part of Cairo's ongoing efforts to resolve the current crisis in Gaza and endorse the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, while reiterating its disapproval of any unilateral Israeli actions, particularly the recent decision by the Israeli Knesset to annex occupied Palestinian territories.
Egypt is also set to host an international conference on Gaza reconstruction in the latter half of November, aimed at bolstering stability in the strip and furthering the peace process.