After achieving a remarkable diplomatic victory in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Hamas in May, Egypt is trying to consolidate its regional influence by positioning itself in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, devastated by the last war.
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The ceasefire established on May 21 after 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas was negotiated by Egypt, which maintains both relations with the Hebrew state and the Palestinian Islamist movement which leads the Gaza Strip.
Cairo quickly pledged to release $500 million to rebuild the Palestinian enclave, where some two million people reside.
"This commitment will restore to Egypt its" historic regional role and allow it "to be heard in the Palestinian ranks," said professor of political science at Cairo University, Moustafa Kamel al-Sayed.
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In addition, it sends to the United States "the message that Egypt is an active protagonist in the Middle East," he added about a welcome diplomatic victory for the government of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, more accustomed to criticism of the human rights situation in his country.
At the end of May, a few days after the first phone call from US President Joe Biden to his Egyptian counterpart, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met el-Sissi in Cairo.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
