The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that Cairo has postponed the extraordinary Arab summit on developments in the Palestinian issue to 4 March 2025, after it was initially scheduled for 27 February. The delay is intended to allow for the completion of objective and logistical preparations for the summit, according to the ministry’s statement.
The new date was confirmed following coordination with the Kingdom of Bahrain, which currently presides over the Arab League Council at the summit level, and in consultation with Arab countries.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts between Egypt and Qatar have reportedly secured an agreement to facilitate the next scheduled exchange of Palestinian and Israeli prisoners, set for Saturday.
In a related development, Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ delegation in negotiations, announced that all remaining living Israeli prisoners will be released on Saturday, along with the bodies of four deceased prisoners, which will be handed over on Thursday.
A senior Hamas source further stated that, in accordance with understandings with mediators, the group will implement an exceptional exchange of Israeli prisoners on Thursday. This move is part of an agreement involving the entry of heavy construction equipment for reconstruction efforts in Gaza and the release of all women and children under 18 detained by Israeli forces from Gaza after 7 October 2023.
The source emphasized that the Saturday prisoner exchange will proceed as scheduled, with six living Israeli prisoners released at once, marking a departure from previous releases that involved three prisoners per batch.
At the Rafah border crossing, an Egyptian official confirmed to the press that engineering vehicles and heavy equipment have begun moving toward the Kerem Abu Salem crossing for inspection before entering Gaza. The convoy includes bulldozers and rubble transport trucks, which are expected to support post-war reconstruction efforts.
On the ground, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that seven additional deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, including six injured individuals whose bodies were recovered and a newly deceased person. The ministry also noted that 13 more people were injured, bringing the total casualty count from the ongoing Israeli offensive to 48,291 dead and 111,722 injured since 7 October 2023.
