Egypt says regional escalation should not divert focus from Gaza plan

CAIRO – 1 April 2026: Egypt said on Wednesday that ongoing military escalation in the region must not divert attention from completing the commitments of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, as Cairo pushes to sustain implementation efforts in the war-torn enclave.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made the remarks during a meeting with Nickolay Mladenov, High Representative for Gaza, where discussions focused on the latest developments in the strip and ongoing efforts to advance the plan’s second phase, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s full support for efforts to follow up on the implementation of the phase two obligations.

Phase Two Entitlements

The foreign minister stressed temporary and transitional nature of the arrangements of the plan’s second phase.

He emphasized the importance of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, beginning to operate from within the enclave across all areas.

This, he said, would strengthen the committee’s ability to manage daily affairs, paving the way for the Palestinian Authority to fully resume its responsibilities.

Abdelatty further called for the swift deployment of the international stabilization force (ISF) to monitor the ceasefire, highlighting Egypt’s efforts to train Palestinian police personnel to help create a secure environment for the transitional phase.

 

The minister stressed the need for all parties to fully implement the second phase commitments, including an Israeli withdrawal.

Meeting these requirements would allow for the launch of early recovery projects across Gaza and a transition toward the reconstruction phase according to a comprehensive and coordinated approach that responds to the actual needs of the population.

He also underlined the need to keep the Rafah crossing open in both directions and ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian, relief and medical aid into Gaza, in a bid to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people.

West Bank Violations

The talks addressed developments in the West Bank.

Abdelatty condemned rising settler violence, ongoing annexation and settlement expansion policies in violation of international law.

He also denounced the Israeli Knesset’s approval of a law on the execution of prisoners and the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

These serious developments, Abdelatty said, risk further heightening tensions and inflaming the situation on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza.

For his part, Mladenov praised Egypt’s pivotal role in supporting regional security and stability, commending its efforts to de-escalate tensions in Gaza and the broader Middle East.

He also stressed the importance of continued coordination with Cairo to advance the implementation of the second phase of the US plan in full.