Egypt has drawn a firm diplomatic line, rejecting any Israeli plans to separate Gaza from the West Bank or divide the besieged enclave. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the two territories form an indivisible foundation of any future Palestinian state, calling separation a “red line.”
Abdelatty also warned that partitioning Gaza itself represents a second red line, dismissing zoning proposals as political illusions without substance. Speaking on state television, he described reports of red and green zones or selective reconstruction as hollow narratives detached from reality.
Egyptian officials accuse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. State Information Service chief Diaa Rashwan said Netanyahu is deflecting international focus by steering Washington toward Iran, Syria, and Lebanon.
A planned meeting between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump may address progress on the ceasefire’s second phase, Israeli media reported. That phase includes Gaza’s reconstruction, wider Israeli withdrawal, a technocratic governing committee, and the disarmament of Hamas.
Egypt argues Israel has already failed key first-phase commitments, particularly maintaining a full halt to hostilities in Gaza. Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began have killed at least 411 Palestinians and wounded more than 1,100, according to official figures.
The UN estimates Gaza’s reconstruction will cost around $70 billion after devastation from Israel’s ongoing military campaign. Nearly 71,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 171,000 wounded since October 2023, underscoring the war’s staggering human toll.