Buenos Aires, December 24 (NA) – Backed by the United States, Egypt is seeking to advance the rapid implementation of the second phase of the Gaza peace plan, which includes the formation of an interim Palestinian governing body. This was affirmed on Wednesday by Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty, as confirmed by the Argentine News Agency. In a telephone conversation with his Cypriot counterpart, Constantinos Kombos, Abdelatty emphasized the need for a 'technocratic committee' to manage the enclave as a step towards the resumption of full administrative control by the Palestinian Authority. He also condemned the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which, he warned, undermines the 'unity of the Palestinian territories.' This diplomatic initiative follows a visit by an Israeli delegation to Cairo on Wednesday to negotiate the return of the body of Ran Gvili, considered the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza. The Israeli mission, led by hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch, also addressed the delicate issue of disarming Hamas and the possible deployment of an international stabilization force, according to an Egyptian source familiar with the talks. The negotiations are part of a broader effort to stabilize a fragile ceasefire that took effect on October 10. While the truce ended large-scale fighting, health authorities in Gaza report that more than 400 Palestinians have died in localized violence since October 11. The second phase of the peace plan, which mediators hope to launch in January, envisages a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the long-term demilitarization of the territory.
