Qatar pledged $500 million for the postwar reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the latest round of hostilities between Hamas and Israel, while Egypt called on the two sides to hold talks in Cairo to solidify the ceasefire reached on Friday.
The Gulf state often serves as a mediator between Israel and Hamas and it has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian and development aid to support past ceasefires.
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The Gaza building that houses foreign media and civilians destroyed in IDF strike
(Photo: Reuters)
"We will continue to support our brothers in Palestine in order to reach a just and lasting solution by establishing their independent state," Qatar's Foreign Minister, Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Egypt has called on Israel and Hamas to return to indirect negotiations in order to establish an outline for a long-term ceasefire, which would include the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip, and an agreement on the issue of prisoners and missing persons.
If the talks do happen, the Israeli delegation to Cairo will be headed by National Security Council Director Meir Ben Shabbat. The defense establishment has not been updated on the talks.
In addition, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken - who jetted to Egypt and Jordan on Wednesday to "rally international support" to rebuild hard-hit Gaza while promising to make sure that none of the aid reaches Hamas. He is instead trying to bolster Hamas' rival, the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority.
He did however made it clear that the U.S. has no immediate plans to pursue peace talks between the sides. Binken hassao done little to address the underlying causes of the decades-long conflict, though he expressed hope for creating a "better environment" that might lead to negotiations.
In Cairo, Blinken on Wednesday met with el-Sissi for nearly two hours. Meeting with American diplomatic staff afterwards, he described Egypt as a "real and effective partner" that helped end the Gaza war and is helping "build something positive."
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A view shows the remains of a building after it was destroyed in Israeli air strikes, amid a flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, in Gaza City
(Photo: Reuters)
El-Sissi spoke to President Joe Biden last week before and after the ceasefire was announced.
"I think we both believe strongly that Palestinians and Israelis deserve equally to, to live in safety and security to enjoy equal measures of freedom, opportunity and dignity. And we're working on that together," Blinken said before departing to Jordan.
Both Egypt and Jordan are key U.S. allies that have peace agreements with Israel and frequently serve as mediators between Israel and the Palestinians. Egypt maintains ties with Hamas, but also enforces a tight blockade on Gaza, along with Israel, with a shared goal of preventing the Islamic group from arming.