PHOTO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi delivers a speech in Cairo, Egypt, on October 2, 2023, as he confirms his candidacy for a third presidential term. [Presidency of Egypt/Anadolu Agency]
ARAB leaders have endorsed an ambitious Egyptian plan to rebuild Gaza, estimated to cost $53 billion, during a summit in Cairo.
This initiative aims to avoid displacing Palestinians from the enclave, contrasting sharply with former US President Donald Trump’s “Middle East Riviera” proposal, which has faced widespread criticism for its intention to displace Palestinians.
The Egyptian plan, welcomed by Hamas but criticised by Israel and the US, includes the establishment of an administrative committee of independent Palestinian technocrats to manage Gaza temporarily. This committee will oversee humanitarian aid and manage the Strip’s affairs until the Palestinian Authority (PA) returns.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed confidence that Trump could achieve peace in the region, despite the devastation caused by Israel’s military assault on Gaza. The assault has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths and displaced nearly the entire population, according to local health ministry figures, reports Al Arabiya.
Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, agreed to the Egyptian committee proposal but rejected disarmament demands by Israel and the US. The group’s refusal to disarm remains a significant obstacle to international support, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia crucial for providing the necessary funding.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the Egyptian initiative and urged Trump to support it, while also expressing readiness to hold presidential and parliamentary elections if circumstances permit. However, his administration’s legitimacy has been eroded by Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli foreign ministry dismissed the plan as “rooted in outdated perspectives,” while the White House reiterated Trump’s commitment to rebuilding Gaza without Hamas. The reconstruction effort will require substantial financial backing from Gulf Arab states and international bodies, with oversight likely managed by the World Bank.
In a speech at the summit, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called for international guarantees to maintain the current ceasefire and supported the PA’s role in governing Gaza. Despite these efforts, the future governance of Gaza and Hamas’s role remain contentious issues, with Israel and the US pushing for disarmament.
-BTS Media
