Egypt and Qatar are once again attempting to revive Gaza ceasefire talks.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced on Monday that Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had arrived in Cairo to discuss renewing the stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas. A Hamas delegation has also engaged in talks with both Egyptian and Qatari officials as part of this effort.
Abdelatty mentioned that mediators are seeking to "apply maximum pressure on the two sides" and have been “exerting extensive efforts” to achieve a ceasefire. He made these comments during a joint news conference with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa outside the Egyptian gate of the Rafah crossing.
The Egyptian minister added that Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working to revive a US proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, during which the conflicting parties would negotiate an end to the war. He also mentioned that mediators are open to discussing the release of all hostages at once in return for a cessation of hostilities.
This initiative to revive ceasefire talks comes as the Gaza Health Ministry reports that the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 62,000.
Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's firm opposition to any plans for the mass relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, as proposed by Israeli leaders, which they portray as voluntary emigration. Both Palestinians and much of the international community view such plans as forcible expulsion, particularly as Israel's air and ground offensive has rendered much of Gaza uninhabitable.
Abdelatty stated that Egypt “won’t take part, and won’t allow” such plans, and called on other countries involved in talks with Israel about resettling Palestinians to “not be involved in this heinous crime.” Egypt, along with others, fears that such relocations could undermine the decades-long pursuit of an independent Palestinian state.