Egypt and Qatar conducted talks aimed at stabilizing the Gaza ceasefire, discussing a prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel. The discussions focused on humanitarian aid entry, bilateral relations, and the reconstruction of Gaza, which is estimated to cost around $53 billion. The meetings followed international condemnation of prior plans that threatened Palestinian rights and amidst ongoing legal actions against Israeli officials.
On Wednesday, Egypt and Qatar convened to discuss measures aimed at stabilizing the Gaza ceasefire and facilitating a prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel. The discussions were held in Doha between Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, occurring shortly after the initiation of new negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
During the talks, the two officials emphasized the importance of enhancing humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza to address the pressing humanitarian needs of the Palestinian population. The discussions also included a review of the outcomes from the recent extraordinary Arab summit on Gaza held in Cairo and the organization’s meeting in Jeddah.
Efforts to activate an Arab reconstruction plan for Gaza were highlighted as crucial, particularly in terms of securing necessary funding. This comprehensive plan aims to rebuild Gaza without causing the displacement of its residents and is projected to take five years with an estimated cost of $53 billion. This initiative follows strong opposition to a prior US proposal viewed as a threat to Palestinian rights.
The ongoing conflict has claimed approximately 50,000 lives, predominantly women and children, since the onset of the Israeli military operations in October 2023, which have recently seen a temporary suspension under the ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement that began in January. Additionally, recent legal actions have been taken against Israeli leaders by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza, alongside ongoing accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice.
The recent discussions between Egypt and Qatar underscore a concerted effort to stabilize the Gaza ceasefire, enhance humanitarian aid, and facilitate a prisoner exchange. The proposed reconstruction plan aims to rebuild Gaza responsibly, addressing human rights concerns. The sustained international focus on the humanitarian crisis and accountability for alleged war crimes highlights the complexity of the ongoing situation in Gaza.
Original Source: news.az
