Egypt and Qatar are stepping up efforts to bring Israel and Hamas back to the negotiating table in hopes of ending the devastating war in Gaza.
On Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Cairo to discuss ways of reviving stalled talks. A Hamas delegation also joined discussions with both mediators.
Abdelatty explained that Egypt and Qatar are working to apply “maximum pressure” on all sides to agree to a truce. He said mediators are considering a plan for a 60-day ceasefire, during which broader negotiations could take place to bring the conflict to an end.
The talks also touched on the release of hostages. Mediators indicated they were open to negotiating the release of all captives in exchange for halting the war.
The urgency is underscored by the worsening humanitarian crisis. Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 62,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, while food, water, and shelter remain scarce for survivors.
Abdelatty stressed Egypt’s strong opposition to any attempts to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza, rejecting Israeli proposals that present the idea as “voluntary migration.” He warned that such moves would amount to forced expulsion and could destroy Palestinians’ hopes for an independent state.
“Egypt will not take part, and will not allow, any such plans,” Abdelatty said, urging other nations not to engage in what he called a “heinous crime.”
For Egypt and Qatar, reviving the ceasefire is not only about ending the bloodshed but also about preserving the possibility of a just and lasting peace.