Egypt's Efforts to Reinforce Palestinian Cause

Dr. Salah Al-Abadi, a Jordanian writer and political analyst, underscored the urgency for Arab countries—particularly Gulf countries, with Saudi Arabia at the forefront—to exert pressure on the US administration, urging it to convince Israel to accept the Egyptian-led initiative, which was endorsed at the Arab summit, for the reconstruction of Gaza. He has highlighted that Arab solidarity is currently at its most unified and effective in over a quarter of a century, as the issue of forced displacement is not confined to Egypt and Jordan but threatens the security of the entire Arab region. Dr. Al-Abadi has stressed that Washington must acknowledge a fundamental reality: lasting security for both the Arab region and Israel is unattainable without the establishment of a Palestinian state and Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza.

Dr. Hassan Salama, a Political Science Professor, highlighted Egypt’s unwavering commitment to implementing the Gaza reconstruction plan, navigating an intricate web of diplomatic engagements to garner both Arab and international momentum. Leveraging all available diplomatic pressure tools, Cairo is actively working to counter Israeli-imposed barriers obstructing the plan’s execution. Dr. Salama emphasized that Egyptian diplomats were operating on multiple strategic levels—seeking to internationalize the reconstruction initiative, striving to mend Palestinian divisions through factional unification, and laying the groundwork for renewed discussions on a two-state solution.

Professor Ahmed Zakarna, a Palestinian writer and political analyst, observed that Egypt is strategically navigating multiple tracks. Beyond formulating a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza, Cairo is actively mobilizing international support, recognizing that the issue extends beyond humanitarian concerns to a deeply political dimension. He pointed out that Egypt was determined to break free from the entrenched state of limbo—neither war nor peace—that has persisted for decades. Prof. Zakarna emphasized that Cairo sought to redefine the regional state, as the crisis is no longer merely a Palestinian or neighboring states’ concern but a matter of overarching Arab national security.

Director of the Arab Center for Political Studies, Dr. Mohammed Sadiq Ismail, analyzed the anticipated visit of the US special envoy to the Middle East and its potential impact on the ceasefire agreement. He noted that the visit primarily aimed to break the current deadlock and either facilitate the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire deal or extend the first phase. Washington has signaled its openness to prolonging the initial phase until Eid al-Fitr. However, a stark divergence exists between Netanyahu and Trump regarding this issue—contrary to the narrative presented by some Israeli media outlets. While the USA is pushing to advance the diplomatic process, Israel appears more preoccupied with preserving its government and sustaining military operations.