Egypt and Qatar Discuss Stabilizing Gaza Ceasefire and Humanitarian Aid

Egypt and Qatar convened talks to solidify the Gaza ceasefire and negotiate a prisoner exchange, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts. Following significant meetings, they outlined plans for a comprehensive strategy to rebuild Gaza, amid serious allegations of war crimes against Israeli leaders.

On Wednesday, Egypt and Qatar engaged in discussions aimed at stabilizing the ceasefire in Gaza and facilitating a prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel. The talks occurred in Doha, led by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, shortly after the commencement of new negotiations to advance the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as reported by News.Az citing foreign media.

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement indicated that the discussions covered bilateral relations as well as practical steps to reinforce the ceasefire and manage the exchange of hostages and detainees. Emphasis was placed on increasing humanitarian aid access to Gaza to meet the urgent needs of the Palestinian population.

Furthermore, the officials reviewed outcomes from an extraordinary Arab summit focused on Gaza held in Cairo on March 4, alongside a recent extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that occurred last week. They also explored ways to execute an Arab plan dedicated to reconstructing Gaza while ensuring that Palestinian residents are not displaced.

The Arab initiative, anticipated to span five years and cost approximately $53 billion, aims to rebuild Gaza. This proposal emerged following the rejection of U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to develop Gaza into a premier locale, which was denounced by the Arab world and others as tantamount to ethnic cleansing.

Since October 2023, around 50,000 individuals, predominantly women and children, have perished during the extensive Israeli military operations in Gaza. The ongoing conflict was temporarily halted by the recent ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement effective from January. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel is concurrently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its military actions in the territory.

In summary, the recent talks between Egypt and Qatar highlight ongoing efforts to bolster the Gaza ceasefire and facilitate a prisoner exchange agreement, with a focus on humanitarian aid and reconstruction initiatives. The discussions reflect a united Arab response to the humanitarian crisis and the pursuit of a comprehensive plan to rebuilding Gaza, all while addressing serious allegations of war crimes against Israeli officials.

Original Source: news.az