Egypt, Turkey discuss US-backed proposal for international stabilisation force in Gaza

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty said on Wednesday that he discussed with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan the ongoing negotiations in New York over a US draft resolution proposing an international stabilization force in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Ankara, Abdel-Aty stressed that any such force must be “for peacekeeping, not for imposing peace,” underscoring Egypt’s insistence that the mission’s mandate be strictly defined and aligned with Palestinian rights.

“We discussed with the Turkish side the negotiations taking place in New York regarding the U.S. draft resolution on the proposed international stabilization force in Gaza,” Abdel-Aty said. “Our top priority is to solidify the ceasefire, and then deploy international forces with a specific mandate to maintain peace, not impose it.”

He added that the draft resolution must be “practically implementable on the ground,” noting that consultations on the text are ongoing. Abdel-Aty emphasised that any decision establishing an international task force must be precisely and carefully drafted, and must take into account the future rights of the Palestinian people.

The two ministers agreed on the need for joint Egyptian–Turkish efforts to support the Gaza ceasefire and work toward implementing the second phase of the agreement currently under negotiation.

On bilateral relations, Abdel-Aty said Egypt looks forward to hosting the second session of the High-Level Strategic Council in Cairo soon, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expected to participate. He noted that both countries aim to increase their trade volume to $15 billion in the coming years.

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