Egypt says Israel withdrawal 'inseparable' from Trump Gaza plan

CAIRO – 15 February 2026: Egypt said Israel is placing obstacles to implementing the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, which includes the Israeli forces’ withdrawal from the war-battered enclave.

In remarks to Al Jazeera, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support to Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, stressing that the country will spare no effort to ensure full implementation of the second phase.

Crucially, the foreign minister underlined that the plan cannot be selectively implemented.

Phase two of Trump’s plan started in mid-January, establishing a Palestinian technocratic committee to manage daily affairs in Gaza, supervised by the “Board of Peace,” which includes several world countries as members including Egypt.

This phase also includes provisions related to the demilitarization of Gaza, the deployment of a multi-national stabilization force to monitor the ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

“President Trump’s plan includes 20 points, and we cannot allow any party to implement some points while ignoring others,” Abdelatty said.

He specifically pointed to Israeli withdrawal from inside Gaza to the buffer zone as a mandatory element of phase two.

Egypt is engaging daily with the United States with Washington being one of the four guarantors of the ceasefire agreement alongside Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, Abdelatty said.

He described the upcoming Board of Peace meeting in Washington as “very important” to renew US engagement in this file and to work on implementing all the entitlements of the second phase.

“The problem lies in the obstacles placed by the other party,” the foreign minister said, in reference to Israel. “Pressure must be intensified on that party to ensure the removal of these obstacles.”

Abdelatty highlighted several urgent priorities, including allowing the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which includes the Palestinian technocrats, to enter the Strip.

He also called for ensuring the full flow of humanitarian and relief aid, advancing early recovery efforts and facilitating the entry of caravans to shelter Palestinian families during the winter.