Egypt rushes diplomatic push to salvage Gaza ceasefire amid Israeli escalation
Egypt has launched an urgent diplomatic effort to prevent the collapse of the fragile Gaza ceasefire agreed in October 2026. Cairo has invited senior Hamas negotiator Khalil al‑Hayya and his delegation for talks, while coordinating with Qatar, Turkey and United States officials. The Egyptian intelligence service warned Israel against expanding its control in Gaza from 53 % to 70 % of the territory and against a proposed “voluntary migration” plan for Palestinians, saying such moves would undermine the ceasefire.
The push comes after a surge in Israeli air strikes that killed at least 141 Palestinians in the past two weeks and raised the post‑ceasefire death toll to over 900. Recent Israeli operations also eliminated Hamas military figures, prompting heightened tension. Egypt has appealed to the United States, including President Donald Trump, to restrain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions and to keep the parties at the negotiating table before the end of the week.
Egypt’s mediation aims to contain the escalation, preserve the core terms of the October agreement, and avoid a broader regional conflict.