Phase Two
The Rafah crossing has reopened on a “trial basis,” Tel Aviv said on Sunday, after Israeli forces has largely blocked this vital gateway since May 2024, depriving scores of Gazans wounded during the Israeli war to leave for treatment.
El-Sisi warns Iran crisis could spill over, praises Trump’s Gaza truce role and backs phase two.
Egypt announced its approval to participate and committed to completing the necessary legal and constitutional procedures.
He underscored Egypt’s ongoing commitment to a fair and comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian cause as he attended a special dialogue session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday.
Rashad emphasized Egypt’s firm commitment to ensuring the success of the committee’s work and providing full support to enable it to carry out its assigned responsibilities in Gaza.
The board, to be chaired by Trump, would oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and supervise a future Palestinian technocratic administration, with invitations sent to key countries to participate.
Trump, speaking at the White House, avoided giving a specific timeline, saying only that “things are going along well.”
The phase covers 73 constituencies with a total of 5,287 polling stations.
In a phone call with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Abdelatty stressed the importance of maintaining the ceasefire and preventing any violations that could undermine ongoing efforts.
Hayya expressed hope that Israel would not obstruct the proposal.
The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted a drone that had crossed into Gaza from Israel, along with "several suspects" attempting to retrieve it in what was described as a botched smuggling operation.
“Extending the first phase in the formulation proposed by the [Israeli] occupation is unacceptable to us,” said Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem. “The occupation is evading its commitment to end the war and withdraw completely from Gaza.”
On Saturday, Hamas will release six living Israeli captives, double the number initially agreed upon in the swap. Khalil Al-Hayya said Israel, in return, will release Palestinian prisoners on the same day.
