US Special Envoy Discusses Ways to Expedite the Start of Phase Two of the Gaza Agreement in Cairo

Cairo, Aug 16 (KUNA) -- U.S. Special Envoy Jared Kushner held talks today, Sunday, with representatives of the intermediary countries in the Gaza ceasefire agreement on ways to accelerate the start of the second phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian Information Authority’s Press Center said in a statement that the meeting included Kushner, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov, and representatives of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in Cairo, to discuss ways to support efforts aimed at consolidating the ceasefire, maintaining calm in Gaza, and continuing the implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement provisions. The statement added that the mediators—Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar—underscored their support for U.S. efforts to establish stability and calm in the Strip, while warning against any attempts to undermine the progress achieved so far in implementing the agreement. It clarified that this move comes as mediators intensify their efforts to push forward the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, following the emergence of disagreements over several provisions of President Trump’s plan, foremost among them the disarmament of Palestinian factions and the gradual withdrawal of the Israeli occupation from the Strip. It affirmed that Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey play a pivotal role in mediation efforts alongside the United States to maintain de-escalation and prevent the collapse of the agreement. Hamas recently announced its approval of the roadmap, while objections emerged from the Israeli occupation regarding some of its provisions, prompting mediators to intensify their communications to bridge differences and establish clear, verifiable mechanisms for implementing mutual commitments. (End) M.M. / M.A.A.