Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told reported Wednesday that the ceasefire between Israel and
Hamas has
already taken effect on the ground, despite the absence of a formal agreement.
Gheit addressed the media following a meeting with Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak and the prime minister of Dubai, and said that Cairo's efforts were now focused on striking a prisoner exchange deal and cementing the truce.
In order to reach a significant breakthrough, he added, "We must pressure Israel into understanding that mitigations (in the blockade place
on Gaza Strip) are needed to facilitate the lull."
The ceasefire would play a pivotal role in facilitating reconciliation between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas. Mending the rift between the two and creating a Palestinian unity government will be the focus of Egypt's efforts next, he said.
Gheit also urged Israel's future government to
declare an end to settlement construction in the West Bank and to concentrate on peace negotiations, based on the two-state solution.
The Egyptian foreign minister ended his statement by saying no significant progress had been made at this time in kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit's case.
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