Arab leaders have endorsed a $53 billion Egyptian plan to rebuild Gaza, aiming to prevent the displacement of Palestinians and bring stability to the region. The agreement was reached at an emergency Arab summit held in Cairo on Tuesday, garnering full support from the participating nations.
The ambitious reconstruction plan includes establishing a seaport and an airport in the Gaza Strip, as well as recycling the rubble left by recent conflicts. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced that Egypt would begin promoting the plan internationally to secure the necessary backing.
In addition to the plan, the summit agreed to form a non-factional technocratic committee to administer Gaza for at least six months under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority. This move aims to streamline efforts and ensure effective implementation of reconstruction projects.
The Arab leaders issued a strong warning against any attempts to displace the Palestinian people or annex occupied territories, stating that such actions would lead the region into a new phase of conflict and undermine opportunities for stability.
They urged the international community and financial institutions to provide immediate support for the reconstruction plan. The leaders also emphasized the urgency of implementing the remaining phases of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, stressing the importance of all parties fulfilling their obligations to achieve a lasting peace.
Israel was called upon to completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphi Corridor between Gaza and Egypt, and to ensure unobstructed access to humanitarian aid, shelter, and medical assistance.
The plan counters a previous proposal by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which suggested redeveloping Gaza and relocating Gazans to neighboring countries. Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Oren Marmorstein, rejected the new plan on social media platform X, reiterating support for Trump’s proposal.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed the UN’s readiness to back the Egypt-drafted plan, emphasizing that Gaza should remain part of the State of Palestine. He described the situation in Gaza as “horrific” and called for immediate humanitarian aid to be allowed into the enclave.
Hamas welcomed the summit’s outcomes, viewing them as significant political support for the Palestinian cause amid escalating tensions. In a press statement, Hamas praised the unified Arab stance, highlighting the rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians or undermine their cause.
“The adoption of the Gaza reconstruction plan sends a clear message that the Palestinian Nakba will not be repeated,” Hamas stated, urging for all necessary resources to ensure the plan’s success.
The Arab leaders also vowed to establish a trust fund to receive financial pledges from donor countries and institutions to support recovery and reconstruction projects, marking a collective effort to foster stability and rebuild Gaza.
