Egypt, Qatar reject Israeli occupation of Gaza, demand ceasefire
Egypt and Qatar reject the Israeli occupation of Gaza and demand a ceasefire, urgent aid access, and an end to Palestinian forced displacement.
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Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty attend a press conference during their visit to Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025 (AP)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani jointly emphasized their "absolute rejection" of any renewed Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and opposed "any attempts" to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land.
The two leaders stressed "the critical importance of Egypt and Qatar's ongoing efforts, in coordination with the United States, to reach an agreement that would ensure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, allow for the urgent and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, and secure the release of hostages and detainees."
President el-Sisi and the Qatari Prime Minister further emphasized that establishing an independent Palestinian state with "East al-Quds" as its capital, as per international resolutions, represents the "only viable path toward achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East region."
The Egyptian president further stressed the need to immediately launch Gaza's reconstruction process once a ceasefire takes effect, while preparing to convene the Cairo International Conference for Reconstruction in coordination with the Palestinian government and the United Nations.
This comes as "Israel" escalates its war on Gaza, launching plans to invade Gaza City and occupy the Gaza Strip, amid a brutal blockade
Egyptian FM, Palestinian Authority PM visit Rafah crossing
Meanwhile, at the Rafah crossing, Egypt's top diplomat and Palestine's PM Mohammad Mustafa conducted a joint visit on Monday to monitor operational measures being taken to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches Gaza without obstruction.
During a joint press conference with Mustafa, Abdelatty claimed that Egypt has contributed 70% of all humanitarian aid entering Gaza since the crisis began in October 2023, with over 5,500 tons of assistance having reached the enclave.
Abdelatty added, "Gaza urgently requires 700 trucks of aid daily to meet the Palestinian people's basic needs, and the Strip desperately requires unimpeded humanitarian assistance without the restrictions or obstacles imposed by Israeli occupation authorities on aid delivery."
Foreign Minister Abdelatty claimed that "the Rafah crossing has remained operational throughout this crisis, though it currently faces exceptional circumstances due to Israel's occupation and destruction of the Palestinian side of the border."
'Israel' deliberately starving Palestinians to displace them: Palestinian PM
Abdelatty further stated that "Israel's war machine is deliberately targeting civilians and Gaza's infrastructure - including aid seekers, while implementing starvation policies that have killed innocent children through malnutrition, medicine shortages, and disease outbreaks."
The Egyptian minister categorically rejected any displacement schemes, whether through scorched-earth policies or attempts to impose new political realities aimed at eliminating the Palestinian cause, including efforts to maintain control over Gaza or "annex" the West Bank. He also denounced Israeli statements and the delusional concept of a so-called "Greater Israel".
On his part, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa affirmed that his government "will exhaust every possible means to restore dignified living conditions in Gaza," while stressing that "the international community's failure to deliver aid, water, and medicine constitutes a moral disgrace."
He emphasized that "this crossing, which occupation tanks have sealed shut, must be reopened, Israel is deliberately starving Palestinians to force their displacement," while affirming that "Egypt has stood as an unbreakable barrier despite targeted pressure."
17th aid convoy goes to Gaza
Al-Qahira Al-Ikhbariya channel reported that the trucks of the 17th convoy under the "Zad Al-Izza" initiative are still flowing from Egyptian territory toward the Gaza Strip via the Kaem Abu Salem crossing in Rafah.
The channel reported that four batches of trucks had departed at dawn, each undergoing rigorous Israeli security checks at the crossing, a process that has severely delayed the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Egypt’s 17th aid convoy, managed by the Egyptian Red Crescent since July 7, includes hundreds of trucks with food, flour, medicine, and medical supplies to ease Gaza’s crisis. However, Israeli restrictions continue to slow the process, leaving trucks stranded on Egypt’s side and delaying critical aid delivery.
The channel further noted that Egyptian authorities have so far succeeded in sending over 1,450 trucks into Gaza since the initiative began, while simultaneously dispatching double that number to the Karem Abu Salem crossing, though ongoing obstacles imposed by Israeli occupation authorities continue to prevent the full delivery of these aid shipments into Gaza.
Al-Qahira Al-Ikhbariya concluded by stating that these delays form part of a systematic policy aimed at pressuring civilians, while Gaza residents endure increasingly dire humanitarian conditions under the ongoing years-long blockade.