Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday April 1, 2026 discussed with High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov the latest developments in the Strip and ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the second phase of US President Donald Trump's plan.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's full support for the High Representative's efforts to follow up on commitments related to the plan's second phase, stressing the importance of maintaining focus on its implementation despite ongoing regional military escalation, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tamim Khallaf said.
The minister also underscored the need to keep the Rafah border crossing open in both directions and ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid to help ease the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Abdelatty highlighted the temporary and transitional nature of the plan's second-phase arrangements, stressing the importance that the national committee for Gaza administration begin its work from inside the Strip and across all areas to enable it to manage daily affairs, paving the way for the Palestinian Authority to fully resume its responsibilities.
He further called for the swift deployment of an international stabilization force to monitor the ceasefire, noting Egypt's efforts to train Palestinian police personnel to help establish the security conditions necessary for the transitional phase.
Abdelatty stressed the need for all parties to fully implement the second-phase commitments, including Israeli withdrawal, in a manner that allows for the launch of early recovery projects across Gaza and the transition to a comprehensive and coordinated reconstruction phase aligned with residents' needs.
The meeting also addressed the deteriorating situation in the West Bank, with the minister condemning escalating settler violence, continued annexation and settlement expansion policies in violation of international legitimacy, the Knesset's approval of a law allowing the execution of Palestinian prisoners, and the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque, warning that such developments risk further inflaming tensions in the West Bank and Gaza.
For his part, Mladenov praised Egypt's pivotal role in supporting regional security and stability, commending its efforts to de-escalate tensions in Gaza and the wider Middle East. He also stressed the importance of continued coordination with Egypt in advancing implementation of the plan's second phase.