In a move set to redefine the future of the besieged Gaza Strip, Arab leaders have endorsed an ambitious $53 billion (£41.4 billion) reconstruction plan at an emergency summit in Cairo.
The proposal, spearheaded by Egypt, aims to rebuild the war-torn enclave while firmly rejecting any notions of forced displacement of Palestinians.
“The Egypt plan is now an Arab plan,” declared Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, following the hours-long deliberations. Without making direct reference to proposals emanating from Washington, he stressed that “the Arab stance is to reject any displacement, whether it is voluntary or forced.”
The move comes amid reports of an alternative vision, allegedly floated by US President Donald Trump, that envisaged the removal of Gaza’s more than two million inhabitants and a subsequent repurposing of the territory as a “Middle East Riviera.” The very suggestion sent shockwaves through the Arab world, prompting a swift and unified regional response.
Egypt’s comprehensive blueprint, encapsulated in a glossy 91-page document, lays out plans for a new Gaza, replete with verdant neighbourhoods and grand civic structures. The proposal also aligns with long-standing Arab support for a two-state solution—a Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, a prospect staunchly opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.
The proposed administration of Gaza is one of the plan’s most intricate aspects. A “Gaza management committee under the umbrella of the Palestinian government” would be installed on a temporary basis, staffed by technocrats. The document skirts the contentious issue of Hamas’s involvement, referring vaguely to the “obstacle” of militant groups while arguing that the root causes of conflict with Israel must be addressed.
Among Arab states, divisions remain over Hamas’s fate. Some leaders advocate for its complete dismantling, while others insist that any such decisions should be left to the Palestinian people. Hamas itself has reportedly acknowledged it will not take part in governing Gaza but has drawn a firm red line at disarmament. Netanyahu, for his part, has resolutely ruled out any future role for Hamas or even the Palestinian Authority in the governance of Gaza.
Security arrangements, a critical concern for all parties involved, would be addressed through a call to the UN Security Council to deploy an international peacekeeping force. Whether such a mission would gain the necessary backing remains an open question.
Financing the ambitious project will require extensive international cooperation. A major conference is scheduled for next month to raise the vast sums needed for the reconstruction effort. While wealthy Gulf nations are expected to contribute significantly, there remains widespread hesitation about investing in a region that has endured repeated cycles of destruction. A tenuous ceasefire, now appearing increasingly fragile, only amplifies these concerns.
The reconstruction plan envisages a phased approach, beginning with an initial six-month “early recovery stage” to clear the vast swathes of rubble and remove unexploded ordnance. This would be followed by two additional stages, each spanning several years, aimed at the gradual rebuilding of Gaza’s infrastructure. In the meantime, an estimated 1.5 million displaced Palestinians would be housed in temporary container units, underscoring the immense scale of the humanitarian crisis.
Despite the scale of the initiative, the road ahead remains fraught with political and logistical challenges. While the Arab world has demonstrated a united front in supporting reconstruction, the broader geopolitical landscape—including Israel’s continued opposition to any Palestinian-led governance in Gaza—poses formidable obstacles.
With tensions simmering and diplomatic fault lines deepening, the success of this plan hinges not only on securing financial backing but also on navigating the deeply entrenched political impasse that has long plagued the region. For now, Arab leaders have put forward a vision for a renewed Gaza. Whether that vision will materialise, however, remains a question for the future.
