Written by Lisa Murimi
Egypt has intensified efforts to persuade Hamas to accept U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to end the nearly two-year Gaza war, warning that rejection could plunge the region into even deadlier conflict.
Speaking in Paris on Thursday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty confirmed Cairo was working alongside Qatar and Turkey to pressure the militant group into accepting the 20-point U.S. roadmap.
The plan includes an immediate ceasefire, a hostage-prisoner swap, phased Israeli withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and a transitional government under international supervision.
“Let’s not give any excuse for one party to use Hamas as a pretext for these mad daily killings of civilians,” Abdelatty said at the French Institute of International Relations.
He denounced Israel’s campaign in Gaza as “ethnic cleansing and genocide in motion,” stressing that “enough is enough.”
The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel that left 1,200 dead and more than 200 taken hostage, has since killed over 66,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.
Trump has given Hamas three to four days to respond to the proposal. But Abdelatty cautioned that the plan still has “holes that need to be filled,” particularly on governance and security arrangements.
“We are supportive of the Trump plan and the vision to end the war, but we need more discussions on implementation,” he said.
Crucially, Abdelatty rejected fears that the deal could result in mass displacement of Palestinians.
“Displacement will not happen because it would mean the end of the Palestinian cause,” he declared.
“Egypt will not allow this under any circumstances.”
Egypt’s mediatory role is seen as pivotal in determining whether the conflict edges toward fragile peace or deeper escalation.
