Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has reaffirmed Cairo’s firm stance on the Gaza ceasefire, stressing a set of core Egyptian demands as reports grow of an imminent transition to the agreement’s second phase. The position was underscored during a meeting on Saturday with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.
During the talks, el-Sisi and Kallas emphasized the need for the full and faithful implementation of the ceasefire agreement, warning against partial or selective compliance. Both sides stressed the importance of ensuring the regular and unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, amid continuing concerns over access, shortages, and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the enclave.
The Egyptian president also reiterated Cairo’s categorical rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land, a position Egypt has consistently framed as a red line tied to regional stability and international law. The meeting further highlighted the urgency of moving swiftly toward the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which is expected to address longer-term security arrangements and set the stage for Gaza’s reconstruction.
According to the presidency’s statement, el-Sisi and Kallas also agreed on the necessity of accelerating reconstruction efforts in Gaza and ensuring that recovery initiatives are linked to a credible political horizon. Central to this approach, Egypt stressed, is the resumption of a political process aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.
Beyond Gaza, the discussions extended to a range of regional and international crises, including developments in Libya, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Ukraine. The two officials emphasized the need to resolve these conflicts through peaceful means, while preserving the unity and territorial integrity of the affected states. They also warned against further military escalation, noting that any widening of conflicts would carry severe consequences not only for the region but for the international community as a whole.
The meeting followed talks held in Cairo on Thursday between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Kallas. Speaking at a joint press conference, Abdelatty said the United States is expected to announce details related to all outstanding obligations of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire in the near future, noting that the plan is closely linked to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Abdelatty underlined the critical importance of the second phase, which is expected to include the deployment of an international stabilization force and the establishment of a Palestinian administrative committee on the ground. The phase also envisages the provision of basic services to Palestinians, alongside early recovery projects and large-scale reconstruction efforts.
Egypt has positioned itself as a central mediator in the Gaza file, leveraging its regional role and international partnerships to push for a ceasefire that goes beyond a temporary pause in fighting. As negotiations enter a sensitive phase, Cairo’s demands signal an effort to anchor security arrangements, humanitarian relief, and reconstruction within a broader political framework aimed at preventing renewed conflict.
