Hamas-Israel talks in Sharm El-Sheikh aim to implement first phase of Trump plan: FM Abdelatty

Speaking alongside Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel in Cairo, Abdelatty said the talks follow US President Donald Trump’s plan to halt the Israeli war on Gaza and seek to implement its first phase.

He reaffirmed that Egypt’s diplomacy remains guided by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to end the suffering of Palestinians, stressing that Cairo’s efforts “are ongoing and will never stop.”

Hamas approval ‘positive step’
 

The foreign minister described Hamas’s approval of the US plan as “a positive step,” voicing confidence in Washington’s ability to enforce its proposal for Gaza.

He expressed hope that the negotiations would help facilitate the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, and highlighted the need to agree on maps detailing Israeli troop redeployment ahead of any withdrawal from Gaza.

Abdelatty said Egypt is keen to ensure the plan’s success, which he said includes ending the war, rejecting any annexation of the occupied West Bank, and preventing the displacement of Palestinians.

Abdelatty also called for stronger European and international pressure on Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, warning that the famine in the enclave is worsening.

Qatar: ‘Details still under discussion’
 

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday that many details of the US plan “still require consensus.” He described Monday’s four-hour session in Sharm El-Sheikh as featuring intensive and detailed negotiations.

Al-Ansari welcomed Washington’s commitment to ending the war, reiterating Doha’s support for efforts to end the conflict, the Israeli occupation, and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

He said the plan links a ceasefire to the release of captives, and that Qatari-US coordination is continuing to reach a lasting, practical framework for implementation.

Al-Ansari stressed that all parties have agreed to the plan, noting that the challenge now lies in execution, especially enforcing a ceasefire. 

Dutch support and humanitarian aid
 

The foreign minister invited the Netherlands to play an active role in an international conference on Gaza’s early recovery and reconstruction, which Egypt plans to host once a ceasefire is achieved.

For his part, Van Weel praised Egypt’s role in evacuating thousands of wounded Palestinians, particularly children, and said the Netherlands would continue to provide medical supplies to Gaza.

He said his country would contribute 25 million euros in additional humanitarian aid, and emphasized the need to protect civilians and secure the release of detainees.

Van Weel added that Trump’s peace plan “remains on the table” and presents a “unique opportunity” to end the war.

Egypt’s water security and regional ties
 

The two ministers also discussed water security, with Abdelatty reaffirming Egypt’s rejection of Ethiopia’s unilateral actions in the Eastern Nile Basin and calling for cooperation based on international law to safeguard the interests of all riparian states.

He praised Egyptian-Dutch cooperation on water management and expressed interest in trilateral humanitarian projects in Africa to support development and capacity-building.

Abdelatty also urged Dutch authorities to ensure adequate protection for Egypt’s diplomatic missions, including its embassy in The Hague, in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Van Weel, in turn, lauded Egypt’s “pivotal and irreplaceable” role in promoting Middle East stability and affirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to the security of all foreign embassies on its soil, including Egypt’s.