Egypt's Gaza plan wins arab backing

CAIRO – 5 March 2025: The Washington Post has highlighted the Arab leaders' endorsement of Egypt's post-war reconstruction plan for Gaza, a plan designed to allow nearly two million Palestinians to remain in their homeland, serving as an alternative to proposals advocating for the displacement of Gaza's population.

Egypt's $53 billion reconstruction plan received approval from Arab leaders at the Cairo summit, marking a clear rejection of proposals that suggested displacement. The summit's outcomes were welcomed by Hamas, while Israel expressed rejection, and the Trump administration's reaction was subdued.

Egypt's Foreign Minister, Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, criticized Israel's rejection of the plan, describing it as "unacceptable" and the Israeli position as "stubborn and extreme." He stated, “There will be no peace for Israel or the region without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state according to UN resolutions.”

Hamas welcomed the summit's results, viewing them as "the beginning of a new phase of Arab and Islamic consensus with the Palestinian cause." Hamas reiterated its rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians from their lands in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit announced that the summit's final statement calls on the UN Security Council to deploy an international peacekeeping force in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He emphasized that "peace is the strategic option for the Arabs," and that the statement rejects the displacement of Palestinians and supports the Egyptian reconstruction plan.

The final statement stipulated that Egypt will host an international conference in cooperation with the UN to reconstruct Gaza. A trust fund will be established under the World Bank's supervision to receive financial pledges for the early reconstruction plan. The plan calls for Hamas to relinquish power to a temporary administration of non-factional figures, enabling a reformed Palestinian Authority to assume governance. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who opposes Hamas, attended the summit.

Israel rejected any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and, along with the US, demanded the disarmament of Hamas. In contrast, Hamas expressed willingness to cede power to other Palestinian entities but insisted on retaining its weapons until the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The report recalled that Trump had caused shock in the region by proposing the resettlement of Gaza Palestinians in other countries, suggesting the US would take ownership of the Strip and redevelop it into a "Middle East Riviera." While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the plan, it was widely rejected by Palestinians, Arab states, and human rights experts, who deemed it a potential violation of international law.

Reports from Euronews and The Guardian also highlighted the Arab leaders' endorsement of Egypt's $53 billion Gaza reconstruction plan. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized the importance of a comprehensive and just settlement to the Palestinian issue and expressed willingness to cooperate with the US and the international community.

The Egyptian plan, also known as the Arab plan, envisions rebuilding Gaza by 2030 without displacing its population. The plan includes comprehensive redevelopment, sustainable housing, renewable energy projects, agricultural land renewal, industrial zones, and parks. The Guardian reported that Egypt's plan included the forming of a committee to run Gaza during a transitional period. The plan also includes AI-generated images to display possible future projects.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated that Egypt's plan would be the basis for dialogue with the US administration. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the plan did not address the realities on the ground.