NEW YORK: Egypt’s foreign minister on Thursday laid out a “clear,” comprehensive Arab and Muslim vision to end the conflict in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire followed by coordinated reconstruction and governance efforts.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Badr Abdelatty emphasized the urgent need to halt Israeli military operations and begin rebuilding.
“The first step … is, of course, ending this unjust war. This is extremely important to stop the Israeli aggression,” he told Arab News.
Following a ceasefire, Abdelatty stressed the need “to move ahead with issues related to security arrangements, as well as the governance of Gaza.”
He added: “We in Egypt, in cooperation with Jordan, are providing training to Palestinians to be part of the security force to be deployed in Gaza, in full coordination with the Palestinian Authority.”
On the potential deployment of international forces, Abdelatty said: “We’re open to the idea ... but it should be mandated by the Security Council and, of course, with one objective: to help and support the Palestinian Authority to realize its own independent state.”
As a transitional step, Arab countries are proposing the establishment of a neutral, non-partisan administrative committee to temporarily govern Gaza in coordination with the PA before handing over full control.
“We have an administrative — not political, not affiliated with factions — specific committee to govern Gaza in full coordination with the Palestinian Authority for a specific period, and then to hand over,” Abdelatty said.
He also called for an international conference to be convened immediately after a ceasefire, aimed at implementing an Arab-Islamic recovery and reconstruction plan for Gaza.
“This is extremely important because it was endorsed by the EU, by Japan, by the international community. So all components, all ingredients are there,” he said.
Abdelatty identified the main obstacle to progress as “the lack of political will from the Israeli side. This is what’s extremely important — to end this aggression, this war, as soon as possible, and then to move forward with the other steps.”
He added: “We’re coordinating with Americans, with Qataris, of course, to continue our endeavors in order to reach a deal which will secure the release of all hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and to lift all impediments hindering the flow of humanitarian aid.”
