Egyptian, Palestinian officials discuss Gaza ceasefire arrangements

CAIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) — Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh on Thursday discussed the recently reached Gaza ceasefire agreement, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. During a phone conversation, the two officials discussed the provisions of the deal and its related arrangements, including the role of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the coming phase. Abdelatty emphasized the need for the international community to support the PA as the legitimate governing body, enabling it to carry out its responsibilities. He expressed hope that the agreement “would help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and pave the way for early recovery and reconstruction.” For his part, the Palestinian Vice President expressed appreciation for Egypt’s role in facilitating the agreement. The agreement, announced early Thursday, marks the first phase of a peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The plan includes a ceasefire, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave. The announcement came after three days of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh, with the participation of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye. Several Arab countries have expressed support for the deal. In a statement issued later in the day, the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the deal, while stressing that the ceasefire should not divert attention from holding accountable those responsible for “crimes committed against civilians” in Gaza. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 170,000 others, while causing extensive destruction of infrastructure and worsening humanitarian conditions, according to Gaza’s health authorities. Enditem