Egypt's Gaza reconstruction plan gains widespread regional, international support

CAIRO – 17 March 2025: Badr Abdel Aty, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, hosted a significant meeting at the Ministry's headquarters in Cairo. The gathering included over 100 foreign ambassadors and representatives from international organizations, focusing on the rehabilitation of Gaza's healthcare sector.

Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, also attended, providing a comprehensive presentation on Egypt's integrated plan for Gaza's reconstruction.

Minister Abdel Aty detailed Egypt's $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza, developed in coordination with the Palestinian government. The plan emphasizes several key components:

- Ceasefire Stabilization: Ensuring a lasting ceasefire in Gaza to facilitate safe and uninterrupted reconstruction efforts.

- Early Recovery and Reconstruction: Implementing a phased approach to rebuilding, starting with debris clearance and emergency housing, followed by extensive infrastructure development, including the construction of 400,000 housing units and essential facilities over five years.

- Palestinian Governance: Establishing a non-partisan, technocratic committee under the Palestinian government's leadership to manage Gaza's affairs during a six-month transitional period, ensuring local ownership and effective administration.

- Security Enhancement: Collaborating with Jordan to train Palestinian police forces, aiming to restore and maintain security and order within Gaza.

Minister Abdel Aty highlighted the broad regional and international support for Egypt's reconstruction plan. He announced ongoing preparations for an international conference in Cairo to secure the necessary funding for the plan's implementation.

Additionally, he proposed that the United Nations Security Council consider establishing an international presence in Palestinian territories, potentially through deploying peacekeeping or protection forces, to ensure stability and support the path toward establishing an independent Palestinian state.

Deputy Prime Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar presented an in-depth overview of the current dire state of Gaza's healthcare sector:

- Emergency Medical Response: Since the onset of the conflict, Egypt has provided medical services to over 107,000 Palestinian individuals who crossed into Egypt, with the cost of these services exceeding $570 million.

- Healthcare Infrastructure Damage: More than 70% of healthcare facilities in Gaza are currently non-operational due to the conflict, leading to severe shortages of medical supplies and essential services.

- Rehabilitation Proposal: Egypt's plan includes rebuilding and enhancing Gaza's healthcare infrastructure to meet basic health needs, with detailed projects and associated costs outlined to international partners.

The meeting underscored Egypt's commitment to leading reconstruction efforts in Gaza, with a particular emphasis on restoring and improving the healthcare sector. The collaborative approach seeks to ensure effective governance, security, and the well-being of Gaza's residents, reflecting a unified effort to address the humanitarian crisis and promote stability in the region.