During an emergency summit, held in Cairo on Tuesday, Arab leaders endorsed Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan, which will allow Palestinians to stay in their lands, in contrast to the US President Donald Trump’s proposal that entails displacing Gazans and resettling them elsewhere.
The Egyptian plan for Gaza reconstruction will take five years, with an estimated cost of $53 billion. It involves an early recovery plan, followed by two main phases. The plan has stirred reactions from Hamas, Israel and the US.
Hamas Welcomes Egypt’s Plan
Shortly after the summit, Hamas welcomed Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan, calling it a “step forward” for Arab and Islamic support behind the Palestinian cause. It also called for providing the means to ensure the plan’s success.
Moreover, Hamas expressed its appreciation for Arab countries rejection of Palestinian displacement. “We value the Arab stance rejecting the attempts to displace our people,” it said.
The Palestinian movement also urged Arab leaders to compel Israel to commit to its ceasefire agreement, according to Reuters.
US Reaction
The US, however, said that the plan does not address the reality in Gaza, according to the Associated Press (AP). In a statement on Tuesday night, the US National Security Council spokesperson, Brian Hughes, said: “The current proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance.”
Furthermore, Hughes said that Trump is still sticking to his plan. “President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas. We look forward to further talks to bring peace and prosperity to the region.”
Israeli Rejection
Israel rejected the Arab-endorsed plan for Gaza reconstruction. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the reconstruction plan “failed to address the realities of the situation” following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
In a post on X, the spokesperson for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Oren Marmorstein, criticized the plan for not mentioning the October 7 attack or condemning Hamas, adding that the plan remains “rooted in outdated perspectives.”
Marmorstein reaffirmed Israel’s support for Trump’s plan to relocate Gaza’s Palestinians elsewhere, calling it “an opportunity for the Gazans to have free choice based on their free will.”
Gaza Reconstruction Plan Highlights
The Egyptian plan for Gaza reconstruction envisages rebuilding the Strip by 2030 without displacing its people. It includes a 6-month early recovery plan, with an estimated cost of $3 billion. The plan involves two main phases; the first will take 2 years, costing $20 billion.
The first phase starts with the removal of unexploded ordnance and clearing more than 50 million tons of rubble left by Israel’s bombardment and military offensives, according to AP. It also includes building hundreds of thousands of housing units for Gaza’s population until construction process is completed.
The plan includes redeveloping Gaza’s urban landscape, with enhanced infrastructure, agricultural lands, industrial zones and large park areas. It also involves building an airport, a fishing port and a commercial port.
Transitional Period
Furthermore, an independent committee of non-factional technocrats will administer Gaza for a transitional period, under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority, while enabling the Palestinian Authority to return to Gaza. Egypt and Jordan will train Palestinian police forces, ensuring their ability to maintain security in Gaza.
The plan also calls for a medium-term truce between the Palestinian Authority and Israel for a specific period of time across all the Palestinian territories.
Moreover, it calls on the Security Council to deploy international peacekeeping forces in the Palestinian territories, within the framework of establishing a Palestinian State.
