Egypt urges empowering Palestinian forces in Gaza, rejects Gaza-West Bank separation

CAIRO – 14 December 2025: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed the need for deploying a temporary international stabilization force (ISF) in Gaza to enable Palestinian forces to assume law-enforcement responsibilities.

In a phone call with UK’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Saturday, Abdelatty highlighted the duties of the anticipated ISF in monitoring the ceasefire in Gaza and protecting civilians under the UN Security Council’s recently-adopted Resolution 2803.

Moreover, Abdelatty underscored the importance of sustaining the ceasefire and implementing the commitments of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan on Gaza.

Abdelatty briefed his British counterpart on Egypt’s vision for a temporary transitional phase leading to the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza.

He stressed the need to realize a Palestinian state in line with internationally recognized legal frameworks and resolutions to achieve regional stability.

He reiterated Egypt’s rejection of any actions that could cement the separation between the West Bank and Gaza or undermine the prospects of a two-state solution.

He called on the international community to play its role in halting escalation in the West Bank and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians, and condemned settlement expansion in the territory.

Resolution 2803 was adopted last month to endorse Trump's multi-phase plan to end the war in Gaza, which has secured support from Arab and other world leaders.

Hamas and Israel are still stuck in the first phase of Trump's plan, which includes a prisoner-captive swap and a ceasefire in place since October.

All living and deceased captives have been returned to Israel over the past weeks, except for the remains of one individual.

Israel has set the condition that all captives must be released before moving to the second phase of the deal, which includes the formation of the ISF and the establishment of a global "board of peace" to oversee a Palestinian technocratic government responsible for daily administration in Gaza.