Egypt and Palestine Discuss Gaza Ceasefire in Cairo Summit

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a summit at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on September 16 to discuss consolidating the Gaza ceasefire and advancing a political settlement. President el-Sisi called for an end to escalation, the facilitation of humanitarian aid, and the implementation of the October 2025 Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit agreement.

During the talks, el-Sisi explicitly rejected plans for the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. This stance follows assertions by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz that the Israeli army would implement a migration plan to remove Palestinians by land and sea. While U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee denied any plan to displace people against their will, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the army would not withdraw from Gaza until Hezbollah is disarmed.

President Abbas briefed el-Sisi on the deteriorating situation in the West Bank, condemning Israeli settlement expansion and the withholding of over $6 billion in Palestinian tax revenues. Abbas rejected any separation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and East Jerusalem, asserting that Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian state. The two leaders agreed to intensify political coordination to translate the international consensus on a two-state solution into practical steps.