Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellatty told DW that Egypt is “fully committed” to ensuring that the peace plan put forward by US President Donald Trump for Gaza is successfully implemented.
Abdellatty was in Germany for talks with his German counterpart, Johann Wadeful, to discuss the organization of a Gaza reconstruction conference to be held in Egypt.
‘The operation of the Rafah crossing is important’
The foreign minister was first asked whether the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt would soon open in both directions, after Israel announced that Gaza residents would only be allowed to exit the territory through the crossing.
“We hope so,” Abdellatty said.
He said, “Of course, the operation of the Rafah crossing is important, very important, and we need greater access of humanitarian and medical assistance into Gaza. Also, there are many cases, medical cases, in Gaza.” “They need medical intervention. We are more than ready to work and ease the burden on the people in Gaza.”
Abdellatty was also asked whether Egypt was pressuring Israel to allow safe passage to leave Gaza for Hamas fighters allegedly hiding in tunnels in Israeli-controlled areas, as the Palestinian militant group is demanding.
“We are working with the Israelis to resolve this issue and other issues related to shutting down Hamas, and we are also working with the Americans,” he said. “These discussions are ongoing, and we are working with the Israeli side as well as the Americans, as I mentioned, to find solutions to those various questions and problems.”
Timing of Gaza reconstruction conference under discussion
Abdellatty also addressed efforts to rebuild Gaza after the conflict with Israel, a topic he discussed in the meeting with Wadeful.
He said, “Well, first of all, as you rightly said, we have to maintain the ceasefire. This is very important, very important.”
“That is why we are in daily contact with the American side as well as with the Israeli side, and with Hamas and various Palestinian factions, because, as you rightly mentioned, without a concrete ceasefire on the ground, we cannot talk about other issues of importance.
“As far as the conference on early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza is concerned, it is very important and at the same time it gives hope to the people in Gaza to build on the existing momentum resulting from the ceasefire and the Sharm el-Sheikh summit last October.
“We have to move in parallel on different tracks at the same time because times are very pressing and people in Gaza are suffering, winter has already arrived and the weather in Gaza is very bad,” he said.
“We have to address recovery projects quickly, and it will prepare for the reconstruction of Gaza. Germany is a partner, and it is a very important country, and they will be co-convenors. We are working with the Americans to chair the conference and determine the date and time of the conference.”
Egypt is training young Palestinians
He also talked about the future security mechanism in Gaza with the International Stabilization Force (ISF) called up under the peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.
“When it comes to security, we have to talk about two levels. The first level is the Palestinian level, local policemen. And as we speak, we already have about 5,000 policemen in Gaza.
“In parallel to this… we are working very hard to provide training to Palestinian youth in Egypt to prepare them to take over security in Gaza and to complement the other 5,000 people already in Gaza,” he said.
He said, “The International Stabilization Force is very, very important because it has to take care of the monthly monitoring of the ceasefire as well as the external border and the security of the border and the operation of the crossings. This is very important, and some countries have expressed their readiness to participate, and now we are working with them, identifying the mission and mandate as well as the formation of these forces.”
closer cooperation in the Arab world
Asked whether Hamas would disarm as the peace plan calls for, Abdellatty said: “We are working on the assumption that both sides have accepted the Trump peace plan. … We have to move forward to implementation, and we have different constructive ideas regarding dealing with the issue of weapons and decommissioning.”
Abdellatty also said that there was close cooperation and consensus among Arab countries to find a solution to the Gaza conflict: “We have very close cooperation and coordination among Arab countries to move forward with respect to promoting a peaceful and political solution. Everyone is together now. Everyone is convinced that there is no military solution to those various conflicts.”
He introduced a resolution on regional security in the Middle East passed at the Arab Ministerial Council meeting in September.
“In accordance with this resolution, approved by the foreign ministers of the Arab states last September, we set out specific principles that will guide security regional governance in the Middle East for the future, in particular principles such as respect for territorial integrity, respect for sovereignty, non-use of force in settling crises and conflicts, as well as, of course, the universality of the principle of non-proliferation.”
“And we are ready to talk to other regional partners outside the Arab world… who will be engaged on the basis of respecting some of those principles approved by the Arab ministers.”
The interview with DW was conducted by Sarah Kelly.