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Arab Leaders, UN Back Egypt's $53B Gaza Reconstruction Plan
At an extraordinary meeting in Cairo, Arab League leaders and the United Nations gave their backing to Egypt's ambitious $53 billion plan for the reconstruction of the war-torn Gaza Strip. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi presented the five-year initiative, aimed at rebuilding Gaza and allowing Palestinians to "remain on their land."
Speaking at the summit’s closing session, President Sissi confirmed the plan had been endorsed, stressing the importance of a lasting peace that can only be achieved by establishing a Palestinian state. "There will be no real peace without establishing a Palestinian state," he stated. However, for a ceasefire to progress, Israel has demanded Hamas' disarmament, a condition the Islamist group has rejected as a "red line."
The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded, stating that the discussions in Cairo "failed to address the realities" following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
International Reactions
The United States, while welcoming proposals from the international community, maintained that Hamas could not remain in control of Gaza. "President Trump has been clear that Hamas cannot continue to govern Gaza," said National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes.
Egyptian President Sissi welcomed international input, noting that he looked forward to collaborating with U.S. President Trump on post-war Gaza.
Details of the Reconstruction Plan
The Egyptian plan, outlined in a 112-page draft document, includes an initial six-month phase focusing on debris removal and temporary housing at an estimated cost of $3 billion. The first phase will see the construction of 200,000 housing units within two years, followed by another 200,000 homes. By 2030, the plan envisions hundreds of thousands of homes, an airport, industrial zones, hotels, and parks to accommodate up to 3 million people.
The reconstruction would be managed by an independent Palestinian body, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas indicating his authority’s willingness to play a role.
UN and EU Support
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly endorsed Egypt's plan, while EU Council President Antonio Costa also expressed support, calling it a hopeful vision for millions of Palestinians. Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa also backed the proposal, underlining the importance of supporting Egypt's plan to help strengthen regional ties.
Gaza's Reaction and Challenges
While Gulf states like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, who oppose Hamas, would likely be critical in funding the reconstruction, Hamas itself expressed support for Egypt’s plan, calling for an Arab role to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and counter Israeli efforts to displace Palestinians.
The scale of destruction in Gaza is staggering, with UN estimates showing that nearly 70% of all structures, including over 245,000 homes, have been damaged or destroyed. The war has left Gaza with over 50 million tons of rubble, a figure roughly twelve times the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Context and Background
This summit comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial proposal to "redevelop" Gaza, which included the resettlement of two million Palestinians to Arab countries. Trump’s plan, which was described as a "visionary" initiative by Israeli officials, sparked widespread outrage across the Middle East. President Sissi, however, remained hopeful that peace could still be achieved, acknowledging that Trump might still play a role in resolving the Palestinian issue.
"I am sure Trump is able to carry that out amid our true desire to end tensions in the region," said President Sissi.