Cairo: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres engaged in a discussion on Thursday aimed at reinforcing the Gaza ceasefire and achieving de-escalation in the occupied West Bank. The conversation highlighted international efforts to support peace and stability in the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, Abdelatty received a phone call from Guterres, during which they deliberated on the recent developments in the occupied Palestinian territories. The discussion included strategies to support the ceasefire in Gaza and calm the situation in the West Bank. Abdelatty emphasized the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and ensuring that humanitarian aid can reach Gaza without restrictions.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, which has been in effect since October 10, Israel has continued military operations in the West Bank, violating the terms of the ceasefire. Reports indicate that since October 2023, Israeli attacks in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 70,300 individuals, predominantly women and children, and injured more than 171,000 others.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, since the ceasefire, at least 386 Palestinians have lost their lives, and 1,002 have been injured. The dialogue between Abdelatty and Guterres also covered consultations on deploying an international stabilization force in Gaza as part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.

Abdelatty underscored the necessity of forming a Palestinian technocratic committee to manage Gaza, which could pave the way for the return of the Palestinian Authority to the enclave. He reiterated Egypt's firm stance against any plans to displace Palestinians or alter Gaza's geographic or demographic landscape.