Egypt Leads the Push for a Sustainable Peace Beyond Gaza’s Fragile Truce
As the FRAGILE GAZA TRUCE teeters on the brink following a renewed wave of deadly violence, international focus has intensified on establishing a SUSTAINABLE PEACE framework—a daunting challenge where Egypt has cemented its role as the indispensable regional guarantor and chief mediator.
Leveraging its geographical proximity, historic influence, and diplomatic weight, Cairo is not only working to keep the current ceasefire from collapsing but is also actively advancing its comprehensive proposals for the long-term reconstruction, security, and governance of the ravaged Gaza Strip. The success of any future peace and stability in the Middle East hinges significantly on Egypt’s enduring efforts.
Headline Points
• Ceasefire Guarantor: Egypt, alongside the United States, Qatar, and Turkey, is a chief guarantor of the current, fragile October 2025 ceasefire agreement, tasked with monitoring compliance and resolving disputes.
• Hostage Diplomacy: Egyptian intelligence officials are central to the complex indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, particularly concerning the contentious handover of deceased hostages’ remains and the broader prisoner exchange file.
• Gaza Reconstruction Plan: Cairo has put forward a detailed, multi-phase, $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza that serves as a counter-proposal to other international visions, emphasizing the rejection of Palestinian displacement.
• Humanitarian Lifeline: Egypt remains Gaza’s primary humanitarian corridor, having delivered approximately 70% of all aid to the Strip since the start of the conflict, maintaining a crucial 24-hour operation at the Rafah crossing.
• Political Summits: Egypt hosted the 2025 Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, underscoring its leadership in coordinating international efforts for post-conflict governance and recovery.
The Indispensable Mediator in Crisis Diplomacy
Egypt’s strategic position, sharing the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, grants it unique leverage and responsibility. Historically, Egypt has been the key arbiter in nearly all major ceasefire agreements between Israel and Palestinian factions, including those in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021.
In the context of the current US-brokered peace deal, Egypt is an essential guarantor. Its diplomats have been intensely engaged in the indirect talks, particularly during the recent flare-up caused by the delayed return of Israeli hostage remains and Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis.
Egyptian officials work tirelessly to bridge the chasm between the warring parties, a task complicated by mutual accusations of ceasefire violations. The country’s commitment is twofold:
to ensure the stability of the current, tenuous truce and to push the parties toward the second and third phases of the peace plan, which involve deeper discussions on Israeli troop withdrawal and long-term security arrangements.
Cairo’s Vision for the Day After
A crucial aspect of Egypt’s peace efforts is its proactive proposal for the “day after” the war. At an Extraordinary Arab Summit held in Cairo in March 2025, Arab leaders endorsed an Egyptian plan for Gaza’s reconstruction.
This comprehensive roadmap is significant because it directly counters any proposals for the mass displacement of Palestinians from the Strip, a non-negotiable red line for Cairo due to national security concerns regarding its Sinai border.
Key elements of this Egyptian plan include:
• A $53 Billion, Multi-Phase Reconstruction Project: This ambitious five-year plan aims to rebuild devastated infrastructure, establish new housing (including 460,000 units), and develop a sustainable, smart economy for the enclave.
• Interim Governance: The plan proposes a temporary administration by a Palestinian body of technocrats, designed to eventually transition control to a reformed Palestinian Authority. This also includes the potential for Egyptian training of Palestinian security and police forces to prevent a security vacuum.
• Refusal of Displacement: The entire framework is built upon the fundamental principle that the Palestinian population must remain in their homes within Gaza.
Furthermore, Egypt’s hosting of the 2025 Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh earlier this month was a testament to its leadership, bringing together over 20 world leaders, including the US President, to coordinate the initial implementation of the ceasefire and secure international commitment to the immense task of recovery.
The Humanitarian Lifeline
Beyond the high-stakes political negotiations, Egypt serves as the unflinching humanitarian lifeline for the people of Gaza. Despite the logistical and security nightmares, the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) has maintained a non-stop operation at the Rafah crossing.
To date, Egypt is responsible for delivering approximately 70% of all aid that has reached the Strip since the conflict’s outbreak. Just this week, Egypt dispatched its 61st aid convoy, carrying over 9,200 tonnes of urgent aid, including food, medicine, and fuel.
This dual-track approach—balancing demanding diplomatic mediation with an unparalleled humanitarian commitment—underscores Egypt’s determination to prevent both a military and a demographic catastrophe on its border.
