CAIRO, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Egypt is pushing for the swift implementation of the second phase of a U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan, including the formation of an interim Palestinian governing body, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Wednesday.
In a phone call with his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos, Abdelatty underscored the need for a "technocratic committee" to manage the enclave as a precursor to the Palestinian Authority resuming full administrative control. He also condemned continued Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, which he warned undermines the "unity of Palestinian territories."
The diplomatic push comes as an Israeli delegation visited Cairo on Wednesday to negotiate the return of the body of Ran Gvili, believed to be the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza. The Israeli mission, led by hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch, also addressed the sensitive issue of Hamas disarmament and the potential deployment of an international stabilization force, according to an Egyptian source familiar with the talks.
The negotiations are part of a broader effort to stabilize a fragile ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10. While the truce ended large-scale combat, Gaza health authorities report that more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in localized violence since Oct. 11.
The second phase of the peace plan, which mediators hope to launch in January, envisions a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the long-term demilitarization of the territory. ■
