Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atty said on Tuesday that progress had been made in efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire, but that Israel must now decide whether to accept a US-backed proposal already approved by Hamas. In phone calls with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh, Minister Abdel-Atty outlined Egypt's mediation efforts, carried out in coordination with Qatar and the United States, the foreign ministry said. He said the proposal, drafted by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and accepted by Hamas, could pave the way for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and detainees, and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. "The ball is now in Israel's court," Minister Abdel-Atty said, urging international pressure on Israel to endorse the plan and help ease the humanitarian crisis. Minister Abdel-Atty also said Egypt is preparing to host an international conference on early recovery and reconstruction once a truce is reached. Foreign officials expressed support for Egypt's pivotal mediation role alongside Qatar and the United States, the ministry statement added. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
