Egypt intensifies diplomatic push for Gaza reconstruction

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty engaged on Sunday in a series of separate phone calls with his counterparts in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Canada to coordinate international efforts for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

During the contacts, Abdelatty focused on the preparations for the International Conference on Early Recovery, Reconstruction, and Development in Gaza, scheduled to take place in Egypt in November, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

He emphasized the critical need to begin implementing early recovery and reconstruction plans in Gaza as soon as possible, stressing that these efforts must operate within an integrated vision that preserves the rights of the Palestinian people.

Furthermore, the reconstruction process must align with the existing Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery as well as the peace plan put forward by the United States, the top Egyptian diplomat said.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Germany, Italy, Spain, and Canada expressed their appreciation for the role played by Egypt in supporting regional stability, according to the statement.

They also affirmed their commitment to continuing coordination with Cairo on all matters related to Gaza's early recovery and reconstruction, specifically in the context of preparing for the upcoming international conference.

A ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, which was mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States, went into effect on Oct. 10.

Israel, under the agreement, has received all remaining 20 living hostages and 12 out of the 28 hostage bodies that Hamas is obliged to return.

Israel's military campaign has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians and injured more than 170,000 others, causing huge destruction to the infrastructure of the coastal enclave since Oct. 7, 2023, according to Gaza's health and local authorities.