In a joint news conference held in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi expressed support for the demilitarization of a future Palestinian state and proposed a temporary international security presence to ensure the security of both Israel and Palestine. El-Sisi's remarks came as part of efforts to advance the establishment of a "viable" Palestinian state and secure lasting peace in the region.

"We said that we are ready for this state to be demilitarized, and there can also be guarantees of forces, whether NATO forces, United Nations forces, or Arab or American forces, until we achieve security for both states, the nascent Palestinian state and the Israeli state," stated el-Sisi during the conference.

However, the idea of an Arab force providing security in the Gaza Strip following Israel's military operation against Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, has been met with rejection by Arab nations. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi highlighted concerns about the potential destruction wrought by Israel's military offensive, stating that Arab states would not want to enter Gaza if it had become a "wasteland."

Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who was present at the news conference, has been actively working to rally support for an international peace conference. Sanchez, in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasized the urgent need for progress towards a Palestinian state. He also suggested that the upcoming Union for the Mediterranean summit in Barcelona on November 27-28 could serve as a suitable venue for renewed Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.

In a display of solidarity, Sanchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, currently the sole access point for the besieged enclave. De Croo called on Israel to open more crossings, citing the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza who are in need of assistance.

During the visit to Rafah, Sanchez emphasized that the current four-day truce in Gaza was insufficient and stressed the importance of a permanent ceasefire. The cessation of hostilities, which began on Friday, marked the first pause in combat between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters after seven weeks of intense conflict. The temporary ceasefire was arranged ahead of the planned release of civilian hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli officials report that the conflict, which began on October 7 with a Hamas attack on southern Israel, has resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people. Palestinian authorities, in turn, claim that more than 15,000 people have been killed as a result of Israel's devastating assault on Gaza, including over 6,000 children.

As efforts continue to achieve a lasting peace in the region, el-Sisi's proposal for a demilitarized Palestinian state and the involvement of international security forces may play a crucial role in creating a secure environment for both Israel and Palestine. The upcoming Union for the Mediterranean summit could also provide an opportunity to reignite dialogue and seek a resolution to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.