UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned against renewed military action in the war-torn Gaza Strip, saying such an outcome would be "catastrophic", BNR reported.
He added that "a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages are essential to prevent escalation and prevent more devastating consequences for the civilian population".
The first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and "Hamas" ends today, but negotiations on the next stage, which should secure a permanent ceasefire, have so far been fruitless.
The second phase of the fragile truce is expected to secure the release of dozens of hostages still held in Gaza and pave the way for a more lasting end to the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent a delegation to Cairo, and mediator Egypt said that "intensive talks" on the second phase have begun, with delegations from Israel, as well as other mediators Qatar and the United States. However, there is still no sign of consensus.
Egypt will train Palestinian police forces to maintain order in the Gaza Strip as part of the reconstruction plan, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati said during a press conference in Cairo with Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohamed Mustafa, quoted by the newspaper “Al Ahram” and BTA.
Abdelati said that Egypt is completing preparations for the extraordinary Arab summit on Gaza, which will be held on March 4 in Cairo. Arab top diplomats will hold a preparatory meeting on Monday, March 3.
The foreign minister stressed that Egypt is coordinating with the Palestinian Authority on security and governance measures in Gaza.
For his part, Mustafa confirmed that the plan for the restoration of the enclave, which will be presented by the Egyptian authorities during the summit, will include clear deadlines, as well as guarantees that Palestinian citizens will remain in their homeland.
“We are committed to maintaining security in Gaza and the forces will be trained to implement the rule of law in the strip,” Mustafa pointed out. He expressed hope that the upcoming meeting will take decisive action in support of the Palestinian cause.
Earlier today, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Mohamed Mustafa reviewed the main points of the plan for the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza. The Palestinian Prime Minister announced that a Community Support Committee would assist the Palestinian government in the enclave for six months and stressed the need for a stable political environment to end the cycle of wars.
The Community Support Committee, agreed upon by the Palestinian factions during their meetings in Cairo in November 2024, will be composed of experts and independent figures.