In a significant political development, Arab leaders convened in Cairo on Tuesday and came together to endorse Egypt’s postwar plan for the Gaza Strip. This plan aims to allow the approximately 2 million Palestinians to remain in their homeland, directly countering the controversial proposition put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump, which suggested depopulating Gaza for redevelopment purposes akin to a beach resort.
The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi announced the endorsement of this plan, highlighting that it aims to preserve the rights of the Palestinian people and guarantee their existence on their land. The gathering included influential figures such as the emir of Qatar, the vice president of the United Arab Emirates, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Their collective endorsement of Egypt’s plan represents a broader rejection of Trump’s proposal, which has faced widespread criticism from various quarters, including Palestinian representatives and international law experts.
The summit culminated in a final communiqué that called for the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to ensure stability in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Arab League chief, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, emphasized that the document firmly rejected the transfer of Palestinians and reiterated support for Egypt’s reconstruction initiative, depicting a strategic option for peace among Arab nations.
Egypt’s postwar proposal consists of a $53 billion plan that envisions the rebuilding of Gaza by 2030 without the need for its population to relocate. The initial phase of this plan includes the removal of unexploded ordnance and clearing away over 50 million tons of rubble resulting from repeated Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives.
A key aspect of Egypt’s strategy is to set up hundreds of thousands of temporary housing units, recycled from the rubble of destroyed structures, thus facilitating a smoother transition for the return of displaced individuals while the longer-term reconstruction takes place. The plan outlines the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly infrastructure, including renewable energy sources, agricultural restoration, and urban planning as a cornerstone of its strategy.
The authority of Hamas, which has been a governing body in Gaza, would be limited, as the proposal seeks to establish an interim administration comprising political independents. This shift aims to create a political landscape conducive to peace negotiations facilitated by the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas.
Ambiguities still linger over whether Israel or the United States will accept Egypt’s proposal, especially given the backdrop of ongoing military actions and humanitarian crises resulting from the conflict that escalated after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Responses from Israel’s government have been cautious, with indications that they prefer alternatives supported by the U.S. that do not support Hamas governance.
Moreover, Trump’s earlier suggestion that neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan take in large numbers of Palestinian refugees has been firmly rejected by both nations. This has coincided with ongoing humanitarian assistance by Jordan to treat a limited number of children from Gaza who require medical help, reflecting a complex interplay of regional relations influenced by the current conflict.
This endorsement of Egypt’s reconstruction plan signifies Arab leaders’ movement towards a collective assertion on Palestinian rights and an indication of a changing geopolitical dynamic in the Middle East as pressures mount for sustainable solutions in Gaza.