Cairo Urges Washington to Expedite Gaza Stability Force Deployment

Egypt has urged the United States to expedite the deployment of an international stability force in the Gaza Strip, ensure full access for humanitarian aid, and complete the remaining requirements of the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan. This call came during a meeting between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty and his American counterpart, Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meetings in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. Manila is hosting the ASEAN ministerial meetings and associated forums from July 19 to 23, with the participation of ministers and officials from several countries, including Secretary Rubio. Foreign Minister Abdel Atty emphasized the critical importance of accelerating the deployment of the international stability force, guaranteeing full and safe access for humanitarian aid to Gaza, and completing the implementation of all requirements for the first phase of Trump's proposed plan. The Egyptian minister also stressed the necessity of promptly initiating the work of the Palestinian committee responsible for managing the Gaza Strip's affairs and halting ongoing Israeli violations in the West Bank. Such measures, he noted, would contribute to containing the current escalation and creating favorable conditions for restoring the desired security and stability in the region. This Egyptian stance coincides with an announcement by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday, detailing a reconnaissance tour undertaken by approximately 30 Moroccan officers in the Gaza Strip. This move, considered the first of its kind, is part of the preparations for Morocco's participation in the proposed international force. Morocco had announced on July 15 the signing of an agreement to participate in this force, which includes deploying officers within its joint command, alongside police and gendarmerie personnel, and establishing a military field hospital in Gaza. The UN Security Council authorized the creation of a temporary international force in Gaza in November 2025, under Resolution 2803, which endorsed Trump's plan aimed at halting the war and facilitating transitional arrangements in the Strip. However, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation indicated that the Israeli government had not yet, as of Thursday, granted final approval for the force's deployment, while arrangements for the Palestinian committee to take over the administration of the Strip and implement the remaining provisions of the plan continue to face obstacles and delays.