Palestinian VP discusses Gaza ceasefire's next phase with Egyptian officials

Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh held discussions in Cairo on Sunday with senior Egyptian officials on moving forward with the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Al-Sheikh met separately with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashad to coordinate on stabilizing Palestinian territories and implementing the next steps of the US-brokered plan.

Focus on Implementation and Coordination

In a statement, al-Sheikh said the talks addressed "ways to consolidate stability across all Palestinian territories and to move toward the second phase of President Trump’s plan, as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions." He emphasized strengthening coordination to tackle regional challenges. The meetings come as Israeli media reported preparations to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which was due to open in October 2025 under the first ceasefire phase but was delayed by Israel.

Details on Rafah Crossing and Ceasefire Violations

According to reports, the Rafah crossing would operate under a mechanism similar to that used during a January 2025 ceasefire, with Palestinian Authority forces managing the Palestinian side assisted by an EU mission. A European source noted Palestinian personnel previously avoided wearing PA insignia due to Israeli objections. The US 20-point plan, announced in September 2025, includes a ceasefire, hostage release, Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal, and an international stabilization force. While the first phase began on October 10, 2025, Israel has committed hundreds of violations, killing 420 Palestinians and wounding 1,184 since then, and has delayed progressing to the second phase. The broader war, which the ceasefire halted, killed nearly 71,400 Palestinians and left Gaza in ruins.