Work must be intensified with Egypt, Qatar, and Israel to end war in Gaza, US President

CAIRO - 31 May 2024: US President Joe Biden said on Friday that work must be intensified with Egypt, Qatar, and Israel to end the war in the Gaza Strip.

He added during a speech that Israel has proposed a comprehensive deal regarding exchanging prisoners and ending the war in Gaza. He explained that the proposal has three different stages.

The first phase of the Israeli-proposed deal will be implemented over 6 weeks and includes a complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The first phase will also include the return of Palestinians and civilians in Gaza to their homes.

The second phase begins with the release of the remaining detainees and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and the third phase of the Israeli proposal includes a reconstruction plan for Gaza, according to Biden.

Officials from Egypt, the United States, and Israel are scheduled to meet in Cairo next week to discuss the reopening of the Rafah border crossing, reported Axios, citing US and Israeli officials.

The three countries will also address a plan for securing the Egyptian-Gazan border, according to the officials.

Axios reported that Terry Wolff, the senior director for the Middle East at the White House National Security Council, is expected to visit Egypt in the coming days, leading a US delegation.

Simultaneously, a delegation of Israeli security officials is anticipated to travel to Cairo, as stated by the officials.

US officials stated that the discussions will focus on a plan for reopening the Rafah crossing without Israeli military presence on the Gazan side.

The Rafah crossing has been closed since Israel escalated its operations in Gaza, deploying ground troops to Rafah city near the border with Egypt on May 7.

Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side of the crossing, triggering Egypt’s condemnation. Cairo has since refused to coordinate with Israel on aid delivery to Gaza through the crossing.

However, early this week, Egyptian humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza after being redirected from Rafah to Israel's Karm Abu Salem crossing, based on an agreement between Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US President Joe Biden.