European leaders back 'realistic' Arab plan for Gaza

Major European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, have expressed their support for an Arab-backed plan to rebuild Gaza. The plan is projected to cost $53 billion (£41 billion) and aims to prevent the displacement of Palestinians. Egypt drafted the plan, which has garnered the endorsement of Arab leaders, demonstrating a unified regional effort.

However, the plan has been rejected by Israel and US President Donald Trump, who has proposed his own vision of transforming the Gaza Strip into a "Middle Eastern Riviera." On Saturday, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and the UK welcomed the plan, deeming the five-year Gaza reconstruction initiative "realistic." In a statement, they indicated that the proposal promised to "rapidly and sustainably improve the catastrophic living conditions of the Gazan people," highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance.

The plan calls for the temporary administration of Gaza by an independent committee of experts, along with the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in the region. This committee would be responsible for overseeing humanitarian aid and temporarily managing Gazan affairs under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority. This proposal comes amid growing concerns that Gaza's fragile ceasefire agreement could collapse after the first six-week phase expires on March 1st, necessitating a long-term solution.

Israel has been blocking aid from entering Gaza to pressure Hamas into accepting a new US-backed proposal to extend the temporary ceasefire, which would allow for the release of more hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas insists that the second phase of the agreement, involving a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, should commence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has stated that Israel will send a negotiating team to Qatar on Monday to participate in talks regarding the extension of the ceasefire, signaling a potential breakthrough.

It remains unclear whether or when the second phase of the ceasefire agreement will be implemented. However, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Kanua has expressed an "optimistic attitude" towards the upcoming talks. The Arab-backed plan for the future of Gaza is an alternative to Trump's idea of the US taking over the region and resettling its population. Egypt presented the plan at an emergency Arab League summit on Tuesday, where it was welcomed by both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, despite skepticism from other parties.

Trump's National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes stated late Tuesday that "residents cannot humanely live in an area covered with fragments and unexploded ordnance." The statement added that "President Trump insists on his vision of rebuilding Gaza without Hamas." The statement issued by the four nations on Saturday stated that they are "committed to working with the Arab initiative" and appreciated the "important signal" sent by Arab countries through the development of the initiative. The statement said that Hamas "cannot govern Gaza, nor can it pose a threat to Israel again," and that the four countries "support the Palestinian Authority in playing a central role and implementing its reform agenda," paving the way for potential collaboration.

Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been forced to leave their homes since the start of hostilities. Israel launched its military operation after a Hamas attack in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others. Gaza has suffered immense destruction, resulting in a significant humanitarian impact. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli military operation, and much of Gaza's infrastructure has been leveled by airstrikes, leaving the region in dire need of assistance.