Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has launched an urgent diplomatic effort to prevent the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, warning that recent Israeli military and political actions risk pushing the region back into full-scale conflict.
Cairo has intensified contacts with regional and international mediators amid growing concern that a surge in Israeli attacks and plans to expand military control inside Gaza could destroy months of painstaking negotiations aimed at ending the war.
According to an Egyptian intelligence source, Egypt has invited a senior Hamas delegation headed by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya to Cairo for emergency discussions designed to preserve the ceasefire and restart stalled negotiations. The source described communications between all parties as intensive, with mediators working to secure a breakthrough before the end of the week.
The diplomatic push follows a sharp escalation in violence across the Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources say at least 141 people have been killed in Israeli strikes during the past two weeks, raising fears that the ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025 is rapidly unraveling.
Tensions escalated further after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly instructed the military to expand the territory under Israeli control in Gaza from 53 percent to 70 percent. Mediators view the move as a serious challenge to the U.S.-backed ceasefire framework that brought an end to two years of devastating conflict.
Regional concern also intensified following comments by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who revived proposals for what he described as the “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza. The remarks triggered widespread criticism across the region, with Arab governments warning against any plans that could result in the displacement of Gaza’s population.
Egypt has delivered a firm message to Israel rejecting any measures that could pressure Palestinians to leave Gaza or move toward the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Cairo has repeatedly stressed that forced displacement represents a red line and poses a direct threat to regional stability.
The Egyptian source said Cairo is coordinating closely with mediators in Qatar and Türkiye, as well as officials in Washington, in an effort to return all sides to the negotiating table. Discussions reportedly include possible amendments to implementation mechanisms within the ceasefire agreement aimed at reducing violence and restoring confidence between the parties.
Egypt has also appealed to the United States to intervene. According to the source, Egyptian officials have asked President Donald Trump’s administration to exert pressure on Netanyahu’s government and halt actions that could undermine the truce.
A senior Hamas official confirmed that the movement had received Egyptian messages focused on containing the escalation and preventing negotiations from collapsing altogether. The official indicated that talks in Cairo could take place within days.
Hamas has accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement and warned that the truce is approaching a breaking point. The group called on the United States and other guarantors of the agreement to take urgent steps to ensure that all parties fulfill their commitments.
The October 2025 ceasefire ended two years of fighting that left more than 72,000 Palestinians dead and displaced the overwhelming majority of Gaza’s population. However, despite the agreement remaining formally in force, Palestinian officials say at least 929 people have been killed in Israeli military operations since the truce took effect.
With violence rising and diplomatic efforts intensifying, Egypt’s latest intervention reflects growing concern that the ceasefire may not survive without immediate international action and renewed negotiations between the warring sides.
