Egypt urges completion of Trump plan's first phase for Gaza

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty underscored the importance of completing the first phase of US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza.

He also reiterated the importance of adhering to international law governing the use of transboundary water resources.

This came during a meeting between Abdelatty and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the ASEAN ministerial meeting in Manila, where they discussed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between their countries and reviewed regional and international developments of mutual concern.

The two ministers emphasized the importance of building on the achievements of their longstanding strategic partnership and enhancing cooperation across political, economic, and investment fields to serve the shared interests of both peoples and support regional security and stability.

They also exchanged views on developments in the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian issue. Abdelatty stressed the need to complete the first phase of the US president's plan, ensure full and unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza, expedite the work of the committee responsible for managing the enclave, and quickly deploy an international stabilization force. He also called for an end to Israeli violations in the West Bank to help de-escalate tensions and create conditions for restoring security and stability in the region.

The meeting also addressed the Iranian file and efforts to de-escalate tensions, including adherence to the memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran and the resumption of negotiations to reach a final agreement.

Discussions also covered developments in the Horn of Africa, with Abdelatty stressing the importance of maintaining the region's security and stability, supporting national institutions, respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, and rejecting any actions or policies that could undermine regional stability.

On water security, Abdelatty explicitly reiterated the importance of adhering to international law on transboundary water resources and rejected any unilateral measures regarding Nile Basin water resources, emphasizing the need to safeguard the interests of all Nile Basin countries.

Both sides expressed their desire to maintain close coordination and consultation in the coming period, reflecting the strength of their strategic partnership and enhancing their ability to address various regional and international challenges. They also stressed the importance of continued joint efforts to support regional and international security and stability in line with their shared interests.

Trump's plan for Gaza primarily calls for an immediate end to the war if both parties agree to its terms.

The plan consists of twenty points approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stipulating that Gaza would be demilitarized and governed by a Palestinian committee with international experts, with no role for Hamas.