site.btaCairo Talks on Gaza Plan Enter Decisive Phase, Nickolay Mladenov Says

Talks in Cairo on the full implementation of US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for the Gaza Strip are entering a decisive phase, the High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov said, as quoted by Egypt Today on Saturday. He noted that highly sensitive discussions are currently under way, requiring considerable time and maximum seriousness.

In an interview for Egypt's Al-Qahera News television, the Bulgarian diplomat said the discussions cover key issues, including a smooth transition between the current administration and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), the delivery of aid and the comprehensive reconstruction of the enclave, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces to its periphery. Efforts are also being made to prevent internal clashes between factions and to ensure the Committee's ability to govern Gaza effectively in both security and administrative terms, he added.

CNN reported that the United States and the Palestinian militant movement Hamas held their first direct talks on Tuesday since the Gaza ceasefire, aiming to reach an agreement on the next phase of the truce concluded in October 2025. The truce is based on a multi-stage peace plan proposed by Trump and approved by the UN Security Council following intensive mediation by Egypt and Qatar.

Egypt's contribution to the negotiations is based on several advantages, Mladenov said. A key asset of Cairo is its ability to communicate with all parties involved, including Palestinians, Israelis, regional actors, as well as the US and Europe. In addition, Egypt has an in-depth understanding of the situation and the capacity to support efforts related to the practical implementation of necessary steps, such as facilitating movement through the Rafah border crossing, preparing Palestinian police forces and developing the required mechanisms and expertise for Gaza's reconstruction.

Mediators are currently needed to ensure full compliance with all commitments related to the truce, the High Representative stressed. These include opening Rafah, increasing the flow of aid, halting military operations and enabling debris clearance.

Mladenov described as a positive sign the pledges of significant funding from members of the Peace Board and supporting countries led by the United States, as well as from Gulf states and Egypt. Turning these commitments into real assistance for the population requires the establishment and implementation of the necessary mechanisms, he added.

He underlined the urgent need to deliver a large number of temporary shelters and to address shortages of basic food supplies and medicines, the collapse of the healthcare system and the dire situation of children unable to attend school. It is important to give people a sense of hope that, even as political discussions about Gaza's future continue, some improvement in their daily lives is possible, he said.

The NCAG ultimate goal, in cooperation with mediators, remains the unification of the Strip with the rest of the Palestinian territories under the Palestinian Authority, Mladenov stressed. The Committee is not a government of Gaza, nor a substitute for the legitimate Palestinian Authority, nor an instrument of the Peace Board to govern the enclave. Rather, it consists of people from Gaza itself who are to manage this transitional phase in Palestinian history and prepare the way for its unification with the legitimate Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, he explained.

Mladenov identified the continued presence of Israeli forces in Gaza as a challenge for the Committee. More than half of the territory remains under their control, fragmenting the enclave. For the body to function effectively, it must be able to operate across all parts of the Strip, he concluded.