Egypt launches body to monitor Gaza ceasefire implementation
3 Min Read
Egypt announces that it launched an operations room tasked with monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza.
-
Israeli troops are crossing into the occupied Palestinian territories from the Gaza Strip, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 (AP)
Egypt has pledged to work in coordination with Qatar and the US to uphold the newly agreed ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the full implementation of its terms. This includes establishing a joint operations room based in Egypt to oversee prisoner exchanges, facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, and manage the movement of individuals through the reopened Rafah Crossing.
In a statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the success of diplomatic efforts led by Egypt since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, in collaboration with regional and international partners. The ceasefire is set to commence at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.
The first phase of the ceasefire, lasting 42 days, includes the release of 33 Israeli captives by Hamas in exchange for the release of over 1,890 Palestinian detainees held by the Israeli occupation. Mediators have pledged to ensure adherence to the agreement across its three phases, following the established timelines.
The agreement aims to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over a year of Israeli military operations has left more than 50,000 people dead, over 100,000 injured—most of them women and children—and caused the complete collapse of the strip's infrastructure, rendering it uninhabitable.
Egypt role in relief efforts
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aati reaffirmed Egypt's ongoing commitment to delivering aid to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. Under the terms of the ceasefire, 600 trucks of supplies, including 50 carrying fuel, will be allowed into Gaza daily. Northern Gaza, designated as a severely devastated area, will receive 300 trucks of humanitarian assistance each day.
During a press conference with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Abdel Aati emphasized the need for all parties to fulfill their commitments to sustain the ceasefire. He reiterated that the three guarantors—Egypt, Qatar, and the US—would spare no effort in ensuring compliance with the agreement. "Egypt has remained steadfast, exercising strategic patience and persistence to achieve this accord," he stated.
Egypt to receive patients from Gaza
Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar on Saturday visited ambulance units stationed in the Abu Tawila area of Sheikh Zuweid City, North Sinai Governorate, near the Rafah border crossing.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Population, the visit is part of Egypt's efforts to provide comprehensive healthcare support to the people of Gaza ahead of the ceasefire agreement, which will take effect on Sunday morning.
The ministry's spokesperson, Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, stated that the minister reviewed the ambulance authority's readiness and inspected the preparedness of the vehicles and medics to handle critical cases.
The minister also examined the referral plan, which coordinates with North Sinai's health directorate and the main crisis management center at the ministry to designate appropriate hospitals for transferring patients within North Sinai and neighboring governorates.
