Egyptian Foreign Minister: International Force in Gaza Will Be for Peacekeeping, Not Imposing It

SadaNews: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty confirmed that the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza is of utmost importance, as it is linked to Israel's withdrawal from the enclave. He explained that the deployment of international forces in Gaza is necessary to ensure both parties adhere to the ceasefire, emphasizing that this force will be for peacekeeping, not imposing it, which is a crucial distinction.

Abdel Atty pointed out that the first phase of the agreement had positives, but it was also marred by negatives, most notably Israel's violations of the ceasefire. He added that Egypt is in contact with the Israeli side regarding the Rafah crossing, confirming that Cairo's position is clear and firm: the crossing will not be a gateway for displacing Palestinians but will be designated for delivering humanitarian aid and allowing medical cases that require treatment to exit.

The minister also revealed discussions with Palestinian factions about the necessity of limiting weapons in the Gaza Strip, confirming that the existence of a single authority is the way to remove any pretexts that Israel could use. He explained that international parties, including the European Union, have expressed a desire to train the Palestinian police to enforce security within the enclave.