JUST IN: Arab States Adopt Egypt’s $53bn Gaza Reconstruction Plan
Arab leaders have adopted a $53bn plan proposed by Egypt for the reconstruction of Gaza, against President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians and transform the region into a tourist and economic hub.
The plan presented to Arab leaders at a summit in Cairo was endorsed in the final communique.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the U.S. could contribute to achieving peace in Gaza, but stated that Egypt’s plan prioritises rebuilding Gaza without displacing its residents.
The 112-page reconstruction plan details a five-year vision for rebuilding Gaza, with an initial two-year phase costing $20bn and construction of 200,000 housing units.
The blueprint includes maps and AI-generated images of new housing developments, gardens, community centers, a commercial harbor, a technology hub, beach hotels, and an airport.
As part of the proposal, Egypt has worked with Palestinian representatives to establish an administrative committee composed of independent Palestinian technocrats.
This committee would temporarily manage Gaza, oversee humanitarian aid, and prepare for the eventual return of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern the territory.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the plan and urged U.S. support for the initiative, while reiterating his willingness to hold presidential and parliamentary elections if conditions allow.
In a speech at the summit, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said international guarantees were needed that the current temporary ceasefire would remain in place, and supported the PA’s role in governing the strip.
A major obstacle to any reconstruction plan is the role of Hamas, which governs Gaza and remains in conflict with Israel and the PA.
The militant group had initiated the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and resulted in over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. In response, Israel launched a military campaign that has killed more than 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, key potential funders of Gaza’s reconstruction, have expressed differing views on how to deal with Hamas. While the UAE demands the group’s immediate disarmament, other Arab nations prefer a phased approach.
However, the U.S. and Israel insist that Hamas must be completely removed from power.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri has vowed to resist any efforts to disarm the group or impose external governance.
Meanwhile, Arab nations remain engaged in discussions about alternatives to Trump’s vision, aiming to rebuild Gaza without mass displacement of its population.
The final communique from the Cairo summit is expected to formally reject any forced relocation of Palestinians.
JUST IN: Arab States Adopt Egypt’s $53bn Gaza Reconstruction Plan is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
