This came during a joint press conference in Cairo with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, alongside a phone call between Abdel Ati and Witkoff to discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire.
The Egyptian minister affirmed his country's rejection of "liquidating the Palestinian cause," emphasizing that Israel's intransigence and imposition of impossible conditions represent the primary obstacle to reaching an agreement. He added that Egypt, in cooperation with Qatar and the United States, is making "relentless and sincere efforts to impose an immediate ceasefire," noting Cairo's readiness to host an international conference for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza immediately after the fighting ceases.
Official statements between Egypt and Israel have recently escalated, with the latter accusing Cairo of closing the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip. Cairo responded by claiming that Tel Aviv was the one closing the crossing and expressed its rejection of the displacement of Palestinians.
Regarding the crossing, Abdel-Ati said, "Cairo has kept the crossing open around the clock, while Israel is the one closing it and preventing the entry of more than 6,000 aid trucks stuck on the Egyptian side." He held Tel Aviv responsible for the worsening famine.
The Egyptian minister asserted that "the famine in Gaza is complete and man-made, caused by the Israeli occupation, which is using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza. We reaffirm our rejection of its expansionist policies in the Strip."
Regarding the future of the Gaza Strip after the Israeli genocide stops, Abdel-Ati said, "There is a comprehensive Arab and Islamic plan based on three axes: recovery and reconstruction, security arrangements based on Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and a temporary administrative committee of 15 people (whom he did not identify) to administer the Strip for six months, after which it will be handed over to the Palestinian Authority."
He continued in this regard: "There is no objection to the presence of international forces in the Gaza Strip in the future if the Palestinian Authority requests it, provided that their role is to support security and stability, protect Palestinians, and train Palestinian forces to assume their duties later."
For his part, Lazzarini said that "a ceasefire in Gaza is a priority for the release of the detainees (Israeli prisoners), and it will also end the humanitarian catastrophe." He stressed that the famine in Gaza is "a reality and man-made," warning that UNRWA's financial situation is "extremely dire," which has prompted the agency to cancel some of its programs.
Egyptian calls on Israel to respond to the US proposal
On Saturday, Abdel Aati discussed efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip via phone with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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The ministry said that during the call, the two sides discussed "joint efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, based on the elements proposed (unspecified) by the US envoy." Abdel Aati stressed the importance of Israel's acceptance of the proposed deal in order to de-escalate the situation, stop the bloodshed in the Palestinian people, allow the entry of humanitarian and relief aid, and release the (Israeli) hostages and (Palestinian) prisoners.
Abdel-Ati also discussed with Witkov "the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, which has reached the point of famine," warning of "the danger and repercussions of the expansion of Israeli military operations in Gaza and the continued use of starvation as a weapon."
On August 18, Hamas agreed to a proposal by mediators for a partial ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Gaza. However, Israel did not respond to the mediators, despite the agreement's terms being identical to an earlier proposal put forward by Witkoff and accepted by Tel Aviv.
Hamas then reiterated its readiness on Wednesday to conclude a comprehensive deal to release all Israeli prisoners in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, end the war on Gaza, and withdraw from the Strip. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also rejected this deal in a statement from his office.
The Israeli occupation army expanded its ground maneuvers in Gaza City on Saturday, intensifying its airstrikes and artillery shelling of buildings, amid fears of repercussions for the city's approximately one million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced.
On August 22, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared a famine in the northern Gaza Strip, warning of its potential expansion to other areas due to the ongoing Israeli blockade.
Since last March, Israel has imposed a strict blockade on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It has closed the crossings and allowed in only extremely small amounts of aid, disproportionate to the Strip's needs. It has distributed the aid through "suspicious" organizations that are not affiliated with the United Nations. It has also opened fire on those waiting for aid, killing and wounding thousands.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 64,300 Palestinians dead and 162,005 wounded, most of them children and women. More than 9,000 are missing, hundreds of thousands are displaced, and 376 Palestinians, including 134 children, are facing famine.
