Egypt is intensifying diplomatic efforts with Qatar and Turkey to persuade Hamas to accept a peace plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Thursday.
Speaking at the French Institute of International Relations in Paris, Abdelatty stressed that Hamas has been warned of a potential escalation if it refuses the deal. He argued that the group must be disarmed, leaving Israel with no justification to continue its military campaign in Gaza.
“Let’s not give any side an excuse to use Hamas as justification for these daily, insane killings of civilians. What is happening goes far beyond October 7,” Abdelatty said, referring to the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel in which, according to Israeli authorities, 1,200 people were killed and over 200 abducted.
According to Palestinian health officials, more than 66,000 people have been killed in Gaza during Israel’s subsequent military operations. Abdelatty described the ongoing conflict as ethnic cleansing and genocide in progress, insisting that “enough is enough.”
The White House earlier this week unveiled a 20-point plan that includes:
- An immediate ceasefire
- The exchange of Hamas-held hostages for Palestinian prisoners
- A phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
- The disarmament of Hamas
- The establishment of a transitional government led by an international body
Trump has given Hamas three to four days to accept the plan.
Egypt has long been a central mediator in Gaza peace efforts. Abdelatty emphasized that Cairo, Doha, and Ankara are aligned in trying to pressure Hamas toward acceptance in order to prevent further bloodshed.
