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OPINION MARCH 29, 2024 | The Indian Eye 14

Gaza Strip in return for a permanent
ceasefire with Israel.

EGYPT COLLABORATED WITH
OTHER INITIATIVES TOWARDS
GAZA WAR.
gypt had worked in coopera-
tion with Arab countries and
Ealso, the US to de-escalate the
conflict between Hamas and Israel.
Egypt actively worked with Qatar
and the US to de-escalate the conflict
and increase the flow of aid to the
Palestinians. After a series of negotia-
tions in Doha, they were successful in
achieving the first breakthrough that
led to the agreement between Hamas
and Israel to exchange prisoners and
hostages and establish a ‘humanitari-
an pause.’ The ‘humanitarian pause’
lasted for seven days, from Novem-
ber 24 to November 30, 2023, while
Hamas released more than 100 hos-
tages and Israel freed about 150 Pal-
estinian prisoners.
The ‘humanitarian pause’ did
not convert into a ‘permanent truce’
because Israel continued its air Due to persistent efforts and persuasion from other nations, the Israeli government approved humanitarian aid through the Rafah border (File photo)
strikes on central and southern Gaza
and Hamas retained the remaining
hostages.
Egypt also participated in the
Foreign Ministers Meeting con-
ceived by Saudi Arabia which was
held on February 6, 2024, in Riyadh
to propose a Joint Peace Plan for the
post-Gaza War.

The countries that participated
in the meeting were Qatar, the
UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan

along with the Palestinian Au-
thority. The plan included the
rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip
and the establishment of a Pal-

estinian state. However, the
plan did not mention the role of
Hamas in the establishment of The ‘humanitarian pause’ did not convert into a ‘permanent truce’ because Israel continued its air strikes on central and
a Palestinian state. southern Gaza and Hamas retained the remaining hostages (File photo)

Due to persistent efforts and Egyptian initiatives like oth- CONCLUSION It helped Egypt regain its centrality in
persuasion from other nations, the er efforts have limited success as the security and geopolitical affairs
Israeli government approved human- the war continued in Gaza, and so t is important to note that the geo- of the region and ultimately helped
itarian aid through the Rafah border. has the catastrophic humanitarian politics of West Asia has always Egypt enhance its power in the region.
It allowed the UN and other groups, crisis. With war spreading towards Ibeen complex. Egypt’s initiatives Anushka is a Research Intern at Indian
like the Palestine Red Crescent So- the south of the Gaza Strip and the to promote peace and stability in the Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
ciety, to provide humanitarian aid. Israeli plan to invade Rafah, the region are significant in understand- Views expressed are personal.
Besides, the lifting of the siege on the tension between Egypt and Israel is ing its national interests and desire
Gaza Strip for medical aid facilitated rising. to revive itself as the regional leader. This article first appeared in the View-
the procedure for safe and sustain- Recently, Egypt warned to sus- Egypt acted as an essential player in point section of the website (www.icwa.
able access to humanitarian and re- pend its peace treaty with Israel in peace negotiations, particularly for in) of Indian Council of World Affairs,
lief assistance in the Gaza Strip. case of Israeli hostility in Rafah city. hostage release and humanitarian aid. New Delhi

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