Displaced Palestinians queue to receive food donated by a charity organisation ahead of the fast-breaking "iftar" meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Rafah, Gaza Strip. AFP

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that Gaza was facing famine and there had to be a rapid ceasefire agreement in the war between Israel and Hamas.

“Gaza is facing famine and we cannot accept this,” von der Leyen told reporters, speaking in Cairo after signing a strategic partnership agreement with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

“It is critical to achieve an agreement on a ceasefire rapidly now that frees the hostages and allows more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.”

Sisi said that Egypt and European leaders have agreed to reject an Israeli military operation in Rafah.

“(An operation) would double the humanitarian catastrophe that civilians in the Gaza Strip are suffering from, in addition to the effects of that operation on liquidating the Palestinian cause, which Egypt outright rejects,” Sisi said.

Abdel Fattah Al Sisi (right) talks with Ursula von der Leyen in capital Cairo. AFP

Their comments follow the announcement of a 7.4 billion euro ($8.1 billion) funding package from the EU for Egypt, as well as an upgrade in relations with the North African nation, part of a push — criticised by rights groups — to stem migrant flows to Europe.

At least 61 Palestinians were killed in overnight Israeli bombardment, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said, as Israel was preparing to send negotiators to new truce talks in Qatar.

Israel’s security cabinet and the smaller war cabinet were to meet to “decide on the mandate of the delegation in charge of the negotiations before its departure for Doha,” the prime minister’s office said.

Its statement did not specify when the delegation would leave for the latest round of talks which comes after Hamas submitted a new proposal for a pause in fighting and hostage release.

The health ministry in Gaza said on Sunday that at least 31,645 people have been killed in the territory during more than five months of war between Israel and Palestinian group.

The latest toll includes at least 92 deaths in the previous 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 73,676 people have been wounded in Gaza since the war began on October 7.

Children in Gaza need life-saving support. Picture used for illustrative purposes only.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that civilians crammed into the southern Gaza Strip would be able to leave before troops enter in pursuit of Hamas.

His comments, alongside visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, follow international fears over the fate of the roughly 1.5 million people who have sought refuge in Rafah, most of them displaced from Gaza’s war.

“Our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand-in-hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah. It’s not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place,” Netanyahu said at a press appearance with Scholz. As others have done, Scholz raised the question:

“How should more than 1.5 million people be protected? Where should they go?”

The United States — which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance — has said it wants a “clear and implementable plan” to ensure civilians are “out of harm’s way.”

Scholz called for a deal to free hostages held in war-ravaged Gaza accompanied by a “longer-lasting ceasefire”, as warring parties geared up for more talks.

“We need a hostage deal with a longer-lasting ceasefire,” Scholz said.

“We understand the hostage families who say after more than five months, ‘The time has come for a comprehensive hostage deal for saving those who are still captive.’”

Netanyahu railed against growing criticism from top ally the United States against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, describing calls for a new election as “wholly inappropriate.”

In recent days, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country and a strong Israel supporter, called on Israel to hold a new election, saying Netanyahu had “lost his way.” President Joe Biden expressed support for Schumer’s “good speech,” and earlier accused Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza.

Agencies