- The US and Israel rejected an Arab plan for Gaza’s reconstruction
- The Arab plan includes phased rebuilding and temporary governance
- Israel and the US criticized the plan
The US and Israel have rejected an Arab proposal for the post-war reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which would allow the 2.1 million Palestinians living there to remain. This plan, supported by Arab leaders at a summit in Cairo, is seen as an alternative to President Donald Trump’s suggestion for the US to take control of Gaza and permanently resettle its population.
The Palestinian Authority and Hamas welcomed the Arab plan, which includes governance by a temporary committee of independent experts and the deployment of international peacekeepers. However, both the White House and the Israeli foreign ministry dismissed it, arguing that it did not address the realities on the ground in Gaza and reaffirming their support for Trump’s vision.
The summit was held amid growing concerns that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza could collapse after the first phase expired last Saturday. Israel has been blocking aid to pressure Hamas into accepting a new US proposal for a temporary extension of the truce, with the promise of more hostages being released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas, on the other hand, insists that the second phase of the truce should begin as planned, leading to an end to the war and a full Israeli troop withdrawal.
At an emergency Arab League summit on Tuesday, Egypt presented a $53bn reconstruction plan for Gaza, which is intended to be carried out in three phases over five years. The plan includes the rebuilding of homes, infrastructure, and the construction of an airport and seaports. It also calls for the establishment of an administrative committee made up of independent Palestinian technocrats to govern Gaza temporarily while working towards restoring Palestinian Authority control.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas voiced his support for the plan at the summit and urged President Trump to back it. Hamas also praised the Arab stance against the displacement of Palestinians.
However, Israel’s foreign ministry quickly rejected the plan, saying it did not reflect the reality following the October 7, 2023, attack. They reiterated support for Trump’s proposal, which would allow Gazans to have “free choice” and “free will” about their future. The White House also criticized the Arab plan, saying it did not address Gaza’s current uninhabitable state.
Trump’s vision for Gaza involves US control, the relocation of its population, and the rebuilding of Gaza as the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Trump’s plan would prevent the displaced Palestinians from returning, offering them “better housing” in neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan.
Hossam Zaki, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, condemned Trump’s approach as violating international law and called it an unjust treatment of the Palestinian people. He also criticized Israel’s rejection of the Arab plan, labeling it inhumane.
The Palestinian people fear a repeat of the Nakba, when hundreds of thousands were displaced during and after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Many of these refugees and their descendants now live in Gaza, where they make up the majority of the population.
The Israeli military launched its offensive against Hamas after an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. Since then, over 48,400 people have been killed in Gaza, with widespread displacement and destruction of the region’s infrastructure.
