Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas met Thursday to urge immediate progress on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The ministers called for a swift transition from the fragile truce to a more stable arrangement, centered on a new transitional body known as the Board of Peace.
Core Elements of Phase Two
The proposed Board of Peace would take on major responsibilities, including:
- Guiding a neutral, technocratic administration to run civilian life in Gaza
- Supervising the disarmament of Hamas
- Coordinating an international force to replace withdrawing Israeli troops
- Overseeing reconstruction and large-scale funding efforts
Abdelatty said the U.S. will soon reveal the board’s composition and supporting committee.
Current Ceasefire Remains Fragile
Since the first phase began in October 2025, Gaza authorities report over 400 deaths from Israeli military actions. Total casualties since October 2023 have reached 71,391.
Kallas sharply criticized both sides:
- Hamas for refusing to lay down arms
- Israel for blocking humanitarian organizations
She stressed that aid delivery cannot scale up without NGO access.
Rafah Crossing in Focus
Egypt is pressing for the Rafah border to reopen fully, allowing stranded Palestinians to return. Both leaders discussed reviving the 2005 Movement and Access Agreement, which could bring EU monitors back to the crossing to secure safe aid and people flows.
Abdelatty stressed Gaza and the West Bank must stay linked as one Palestinian entity, rejecting any separation.
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