US silent as Israel heaps scorn on Arab League's Gaza ceasefire plan

A plan for the post-war reconstruction and governance of the Gaza Strip, proposed by Arab nations, has yet to receive a response from the United States and has been strongly opposed by Israel. Israel's repeated emphasis on its position of forcibly displacing Palestinians further complicates the situation, adding to the already tense atmosphere.

The Arab League formally approved the plan, proposed by Egypt, on Tuesday, and warned that any attempt to displace Palestinians would be "criminal." The core of the plan includes Jordan and Egypt being responsible for training a Palestinian police force, and also proposes the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to maintain local security and stability, ensuring a more peaceful environment.

According to the text reviewed by Middle East Eye, the plan also includes the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, with the expected construction of 10 churches and 200 mosques, and the construction of green spaces and parks in areas where Israel demolished houses to establish military buffer zones, improving the living environment for local residents. The reconstruction is expected to take five years, with a total investment of $53 billion, far less than the 15 years previously estimated by the Trump administration. Arab leaders have agreed to establish a trust fund specifically to finance the reconstruction project, showing their commitment to the endeavor.

The 91-page proposal submitted by Egypt also included pictures showing temporary housing units for Palestinians to live in during the reconstruction period. These housing units are beautifully designed and surrounded by green trees. The plan also calls for the Palestinian Authority to return to the Gaza Strip and restore its jurisdiction there. At the same time, Egypt announced that it had identified the people who would lead the Gaza Administrative Council in the next six months, signaling a clear timeline for the transition.

In response to the plan, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday accusing Arab countries of treating Palestinians as "pawns against Israel" and insisting on "outdated views." Israel has also suspended all aid to the Gaza Strip and plans to cut off electricity supplies and restore the blockade of the region. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on the X platform: "Under President Trump's vision, the people of Gaza had the opportunity to freely choose according to their own wishes. The Arab countries did not give this opportunity fair treatment, rejected it outright, and continued to make unfounded accusations against Israel," highlighting their disagreement.

Although the Trump administration had not commented on the proposal as of Tuesday evening, an Egyptian official told Middle East Eye that Cairo expected Israel to pour cold water on the plan. Israel has ruled out the possibility of the Palestinian Authority returning to the Gaza Strip and has adopted President Trump's call for the forced displacement of Palestinians. The Egyptian official also said that Cairo took into account Trump's idea of using the Gaza Mediterranean coast when formulating the plan, and the computer images of post-war Gaza in the plan showed stylish limestone buildings, gardens, universities and hospitals, showcasing a vision for a revitalized region.

The Egyptian official further stated: "The Americans want 'no Hamas,' but they do not support ethnic cleansing." He suggested that Arab countries hope they can drive a wedge between Israel and the United States. Middle East Eye previously reported that Egypt and Jordan believed they had convinced Trump to abandon the US takeover of Gaza and forced displacement plans, preventing further escalation.

It is worth noting that Hamas had previously rejected any external forces entering Gaza, but on Tuesday expressed support for the Egyptian plan. Egyptian officials said that if the plan is successfully implemented, it will include an Arab peacekeeping force led by Egypt to dismantle or remove Hamas' missile and weapons manufacturing capabilities, although they admitted that collecting small arms would be more difficult. Hamas has acquiesced to US and Egyptian private security contractors operating Gaza's Netzarim Corridor in the first phase of the ceasefire, indicating a level of cooperation.

Egypt's plan appears to be similar to the plan publicly proposed by the United Arab Emirates in the summer of 2024. The UAE has been pushing for the establishment of a committee of Palestinian leaders to administer Gaza. These people would be loyal to the ousted former Fatah leader, Palestinian strongman Mohammed Dahlan, who would eventually be appointed as the successor to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, marking a potential shift in leadership.

Abbas announced on Tuesday an amnesty for ousted Fatah members, a move that could open the door for Dahlan and others to return to Palestine, suggesting that the United Arab Emirates' influence in Gaza may be on the rise. Abbas also said he was prepared to hold presidential and legislative elections, a long-standing demand of the UAE. Analysts believe that the unpopular octogenarian Abbas is likely to lose in the elections, potentially paving the way for new leadership and a different political landscape.