Egypt calls on EU to exert more pressure on Israel over Gaza ceasefire deal
World
Egyptian Foreign Minister on Sunday called for the total compliance of the Gaza ceasefire deal
CAIRO (AFP) - Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Sunday called for the total compliance of the Gaza ceasefire deal, urging both Israel and Hamas to honour their commitments. He also called on the European Union to put maximum pressure on Israel, which on Saturday announced the suspension of aid deliveries into Gaza.
"There is no alternative to the faithful and full implementation by all parties of what was signed last January," Abdelatty said at a news conference in Cairo with the EU commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica.
He also urged the European Union to exert "maximum pressure on the parties, especially the Israeli party, regarding commitment to the ceasefire agreement".
As the 42-day first phase of the ceasefire drew to a close on Saturday, Israel backed an extension proposed by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which would cover the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover.
SECOND PHASE
Hamas, however, has repeatedly rejected extending the first phase, instead insisting on moving directly to the second stage.
This would involve the release of all remaining hostages and a more permanent end to the fighting in Gaza.
"We must now move forward with negotiations on the second phase, which will naturally be challenging," Abdelatty said.
He added that progress remained possible "if goodwill and political will are present".
VITAL SUPPLIES HALTED
His comments came after Israel said Sunday that it was suspending the entry of supplies into Gaza, amid deadly attacks reported in the territory.
"Israel will not accept a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas persists with its refusal, there will be other consequences," a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.
Hamas slammed the move, saying in a statement that the "decision to suspend humanitarian aid is cheap blackmail, a war crime and a blatant coup against the (ceasefire) agreement".
The group called on "mediators and the international community to pressure" Israel to "put an end to these punitive, immoral measures against more than two million people in the Gaza Strip".
More than 15 months of war created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with the UN repeatedly warning the territory was on the brink of famine before the ceasefire allowed a surge of aid to enter.
The International Committee of the Red Cross on Sunday called on Israel and Hamas to maintain their ceasefire in Gaza to prevent further suffering.
"The ceasefire agreement has saved countless lives and offered a beacon of hope amid unimaginable suffering. Any unravelling of the forward momentum created over the last six weeks risks plunging people back into despair," it said in a statement, adding the truce was "essential."
UN chief Antonio Guterres called on Sunday for Israel to end its suspension of humanitarian aid to Gaza "immediately."
"The Secretary-General urges all parties to make every effort to prevent a return to hostilities in Gaza. He calls for humanitarian aid to flow back into Gaza immediately and for the release of all hostages," said a statement from the UN posted on X.
RECONSTRUCTION PLAN
Egypt is set to host a meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Monday, ahead of a Tuesday summit where Arab leaders are due to discuss a reconstruction plan for Gaza.
Abdelatty said the plan had been finalised and was "awaiting presentation to Arab partners at the ministerial meeting and the summit for approval".
Egypt has also been rallying Arab support against a plan by US President Donald Trump to take over Gaza and turn it into the "Riviera of the Middle East".
