Egypt reiterates rejection of attempts to separate Gaza and occupied West Bank

Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdel-Aty, has reiterated Cairo’s firm rejection of any measures that would entrench the separation between the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank or undermine prospects for a two-state solution.

The remarks were made during a telephone call on Saturday evening between Abdel-Aty and his British counterpart, Yvette Cooper, according to a statement issued by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

The ministry said the two ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional developments of mutual concern.

On Gaza, Abdel-Aty stressed the importance of sustaining the ceasefire and fully implementing the requirements of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war. He emphasised the need to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2803, including the deployment of the Temporary International Stabilisation Force (TISF) to monitor the ceasefire, protect civilians, and enable Palestinian forces to assume law-enforcement responsibilities in the Strip.

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UN Security Council Resolution 2803, adopted last November, outlines steps towards ending the fighting and establishing post-war governance arrangements in Gaza.

The ceasefire, which came into force last October, halted a genocide launched by the Israeli occupation on 8 October 2023. The two-year assault left more than 70,000 Palestinians dead and over 170,000 wounded, while causing extensive destruction to around 90 per cent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. Initial estimates place reconstruction losses at approximately $70 billion.

Abdel-Aty also briefed his British counterpart on Egypt’s vision for an interim transitional phase that would pave the way for the Palestinian Authority’s return to governance in Gaza.

He underlined that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, remains essential for achieving lasting stability in the region.

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