Egypt, Qatar Press for Full Implementation of Gaza Ceasefire
London-UK, December 8, 2025
The principal mediators of the ongoing but fragile cessation of hostilities, Egypt and Qatar, are intensely pressing for the full implementation of the Gaza Ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the potential deployment of an international stabilisation force.
Despite the US-brokered deal formally commencing weeks ago, repeated Israeli incursions and the continued restriction of vital humanitarian aid have prompted the guarantors to demand immediate and robust adherence to the 20-point plan.
The call comes as reports of numerous violations threaten to completely unravel the complex phased deal designed to end the conflict and ensure a path towards a long-term political resolution.
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, speaking at the Doha Forum, stressed that the agreement has reached a “critical moment.” He asserted that the full stability required by the accord could not be achieved unless there was a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the installation of a transnational security mechanism.
This joint push from Cairo and Doha underscores the deep concern among regional stakeholders that the agreement, despite its initial success in securing the release of hostages and prisoners, is failing its broader humanitarian and security objectives.
Key Headline Points
• Mediators’ Demand: Qatar and Egypt, the ceasefire guarantors, have publicly called for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of an international stabilisation force to secure the next phase of the truce.
• Core Conditions Violated: Israel is accused of failing to withdraw behind the ‘Yellow Line’ and severely restricting the entry of humanitarian aid, which the agreement mandates at a minimum of 600 trucks daily.
• Second Phase Sticking Points: Implementation of the second phase—which includes Hamas disarmament and the formation of a transitional governing body—is stalled due to ongoing violence and mutual accusations of breaches.
• International Force Hesitancy: While the UN-endorsed plan calls for an international stabilisation force, Arab and Muslim nations remain hesitant to commit troops, fearing they could be drawn into fighting with local militant groups.
• Rafah Crossing Limitation: Israel has limited the opening of the Rafah border crossing to “exclusively for the exit of residents from the Gaza Strip to Egypt,” restricting the vital flow of goods and personnel required by the peace deal.
The Unfulfilled Promise of Peace
The initial stages of the peace deal, which included the release of all remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, were successfully executed.
However, the subsequent steps, focusing on Israeli withdrawal and humanitarian access, have proven far more challenging.
The UN-endorsed framework, negotiated under heavy US pressure, required the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to pull back to the designated ‘Yellow Line’ within Gaza’s borders.
Yet, reports confirm that Israeli forces have maintained forward positions and conducted numerous punitive incursions, as detailed in our previous report.
This failure to fully disengage has been cited by the mediating parties as a major obstacle to moving forward.
Equally critical is the failure of the humanitarian provisions.
The deal explicitly stipulated that from the first day, large and sufficient quantities of humanitarian aid, including a minimum of 600 trucks per day (including fuel), would be allowed to enter the strip.
Sources indicate that only a fraction of this promised aid has been permitted entry, severely deepening the humanitarian catastrophe, especially in the north.
The insistence by Israel to only open the Rafah crossing for “the exit of residents” to Egypt, rather than for the mandated aid and commerce, directly contravenes the terms intended to jumpstart the strip’s recovery.
The Next Steps: Stability and Disarmament
The current focus of the mediators is to pave the way for the second phase, a temporary stage that calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body known as the “Board of Peace” and the long-term disarmament of Hamas.
Sheikh Mohammed noted that Qatar and its partners are “getting together in order to force the way forward for the next phase.”
This pressure is being exerted through a follow-up mechanism agreed upon in Cairo involving Qatar, Egypt, and the US, whose teams are tasked with monitoring the agreement’s implementation and reporting violations.
However, a major sticking point remains the proposed international stabilisation force.
Under the UN-endorsed plan, this force is essential to maintaining calm and administering Gaza after the Israeli withdrawal. While the US is pushing for its deployment, key regional players, including potential contributors from Arab and Muslim nations, have expressed reluctance.
Their fear is that deploying troops could draw them into a direct conflict with Palestinian militant groups who are unlikely to accept being disarmed by an external, potentially US-backed, force.
Egyptian Foreign Ministry officials have reiterated the necessity of “continuing efforts to implement” the agreement, stressing that the instability risks undermining the goal of achieving a lasting political solution.
For the international community, the coming weeks are critical. The mediators must successfully navigate the entrenched resistance to change the status quo on the ground, or the most comprehensive ceasefire agreement in years risks collapsing completely, returning the region to full-scale conflict.
