Egypt intensified contacts with Arab and Islamic countries to align positions on Gaza ahead of a planned Board of Peace meeting, pressing for the “full and non-selective implementation” of US President Donald Trump’s plan.
In a phone call on Friday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi reviewed developments in Gaza and coordinated positions before the Washington gathering.
The two ministers stressed the need to move ahead with the second phase of Trump’s plan, ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid, launch early recovery efforts, and prepare the ground for reconstruction.
They underscored support for the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza as a transitional body, paving the way for the Palestinian Authority to resume full responsibility in the enclave. They also backed efforts to deploy an International Stabilization Force to monitor the ceasefire.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Abdelatty and Safadi discussed preparations for the Board of Peace meeting and ongoing Arab and Islamic coordination, with particular focus on implementing all elements of Trump’s plan without omission.
Delegations from at least 20 countries, including several heads of state, are expected to attend the February 19 meeting in Washington, which Trump will chair, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Under the US initiative to end the Gaza war, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza would temporarily manage the territory under the supervision of the Board of Peace.
De-escalation
In their call, Abdelatty and Safadi reiterated support for Trump’s rejection of annexing the West Bank. They stressed the need to preserve the territorial unity of the Palestinian land between Gaza and the West Bank.
They called for a clear political horizon leading to an independent and sovereign Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution and relevant international resolutions.
The ministers warned that what they described as illegal Israeli measures in the occupied West Bank risk igniting tensions and derailing de-escalation efforts.
They emphasized the need to contain regional tensions and prioritize political and diplomatic solutions to prevent a wider conflict and bolster regional stability.
They also highlighted the importance of sustained Arab coordination to confront mounting challenges and push for durable political settlements that safeguard Arab interests and regional security.
Ahmed Fouad Anwar, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and a specialist in Israeli affairs, said Egypt brings cumulative experience to the file and is capable of engaging Israel in ways that secure Palestinian rights or, at a minimum, “reduce losses.”
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Anwar said Cairo also leverages collective action through regional, Arab, and Islamic coordination, while mobilizing Western public opinion by facilitating visits to the Rafah land crossing to counter Israeli claims of closures and access restrictions.
He cautioned that the proposed international force faces complex questions over its mandate and authority, pointing to what he described as Israeli maneuvering and daily violations aimed at obstructing the agreement.
Stakes
Saeed Okasha, an expert on Israeli affairs at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said Egypt’s diplomatic outreach is necessary “even if the odds of tangible results are not high.”
“There must always be movement to unify positions on Gaza, especially since Egypt and Jordan would bear the brunt if the crisis reignites,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
He warned that talk of a “displacement scenario” could resurface if fighting resumes in Gaza, posing serious risks to both countries, making Egyptian-Jordanian coordination both logical and urgent.
Okasha said Trump is keen for the Board of Peace meeting to succeed and that it is expected to tackle sensitive issues such as Hamas disarmament and reconstruction.
“These files require unified positions to exert pressure,” he said. “Even if the US stance differs, it will have to take into account coordinated objections.”
Anwar suggested that even the threat of withdrawing from the Board of Peace could serve as leverage if a majority favors a path focused on early recovery and reconstruction, a direction he said Israel resists.
“Balance is required,” he said.
Ambiguity
Gaza was also the focus of a Friday call between Abdelatty and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
Okasha said ambiguity in some provisions of the plan complicates implementation. Disarmament of Hamas, for example, is referenced but without clear timelines or mechanisms.
“This ambiguity fuels disputes and gives Israel room to delay,” he said.
On the West Bank, Anwar described the situation as “extremely dangerous,” warning that annexation rhetoric threatens the foundation of a future Palestinian state and undermines the two-state solution.
Okasha called developments there a “major crisis,” noting that the Gaza agreement addressed the West Bank only briefly, a gap he said Israel has used to argue that its policies there are separate from events in Gaza.
