Arab leaders endorse Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has stated that Arab leaders have endorsed an Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of the war-torn Gaza Strip, which allows residents of Gaza to remain in the area. This plan aims to counter a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to displace Gaza's 2.3 million residents and redevelop the Palestinian territory, ensuring stability and preventing further displacement.

At a meeting in Cairo, regional leaders, including the Emir of Qatar, the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, and the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, endorsed the plan. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also attended the meeting. According to media reports, the Egyptian plan includes an initial recovery phase aimed at clearing mines in the area and providing temporary housing, followed by a longer reconstruction phase focusing on rebuilding essential infrastructure, which will be crucial for the long-term recovery of the region.

Other key questions regarding the future of Gaza include who will govern the enclave and which countries will provide billions of dollars to rebuild the devastated territory. Sisi stated that Egypt, in cooperation with the Palestinians, has established an administrative council composed of independent, professional Palestinian technocrats to manage Gaza. This council will be responsible for overseeing humanitarian aid and temporarily managing the affairs of the Gaza Strip until the return of the Palestinian Authority (PA), ensuring a smooth transition of power.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that he welcomes the Egyptian idea and urged Trump to support a plan that does not involve the displacement of Palestinian residents. Abbas, who has been in power since 2005, also stated that he is prepared to hold presidential and parliamentary elections if the conditions allow, adding that his Palestinian Authority is the only legitimate governing and military power in the occupied Palestinian territories, reinforcing his commitment to democratic processes.

Hamas has stated that it rejects any solution imposed on the Gaza Strip by external forces. In a statement on Tuesday, the organization said: "We look forward to Arab countries playing an effective role in ending the humanitarian tragedy caused by the occupation in the Gaza Strip... and thwarting the (Israeli) occupier's plans to displace (Palestinians)." Any proposal will require strong support from Gulf Arab states such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which have the billions of dollars needed to implement the plan, making their involvement essential for the plan's success.

The special summit was convened just days after the expiration of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Israel reneged on the terms of the agreement, refusing to initiate the second phase of negotiations and instead pushing for an extension of the first phase. Israel announced on Sunday that it would halt the delivery of humanitarian aid and other supplies to Gaza and presented a new ceasefire proposal, claiming it had the support of the United States, further complicating the already tense situation.

During the first phase of 42 days, 25 living captives and the remains of 8 deceased captives were returned to Israel in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. All remaining living captives were scheduled to be released in the second phase of the ceasefire, but Hamas and Israel have become deadlocked over how to extend the ceasefire agreement. Under Israel's new proposal, Hamas would be required to release half of its remaining captives in exchange for an extension of the ceasefire and a commitment to reaching a lasting truce. Israel made no mention of releasing more Palestinian prisoners, which was a key component of the first phase, signaling a significant shift in their negotiating position.

Hamas has accused Israel of trying to undermine the existing agreement, which required both sides to negotiate the return of the remaining captives in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a lasting ceasefire. However, substantive negotiations have not yet taken place, leaving the future of the agreement uncertain.