At a recent Arab League summit in Cairo, President Sisi announced that Arab leaders approved Egypt’s reconstruction plan for Gaza, aimed at rebuilding without displacing Palestinians. The plan, which borrows from UN estimates, allocates $53 billion over five years for essential infrastructure and housing. Despite support from Arab leaders and the UN, challenges remain regarding the Palestinian Authority’s governance role and ongoing tensions with Israel.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi announced that Arab leaders have agreed to Egypt’s reconstruction plan for Gaza during the Arab League summit held in Cairo. This plan aims to rebuild Gaza while ensuring no displacement of Palestinians, providing an alternative to a proposal made by former US President Donald Trump. Although Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority expressed readiness to regain control over Gaza, there are doubts regarding the PA’s governance due to Israel’s rejection of the authority’s role.
Sisi emphasized that the reconstruction initiative could help preserve the presence of Palestinians in Gaza, making a careful remark not to openly criticize Trump. He called for a serious political process to resolve the Palestinian issue, expressing confidence in Trump’s ability to facilitate such a solution. The proposed Egyptian plan includes governance by a committee of Palestinian technocrats, paving the way for the PA’s potential reintegration into Gaza administration.
A draft of the Egyptian plan outlines a five-year reconstruction strategy with an estimated cost of $53 billion, mirroring the UN’s estimation for Gaza’s rebuilding costs. The initial phase, which lasts six months at the cost of $3 billion, focuses on clearing debris and providing temporary housing. Subsequent phases will address essential infrastructure and long-term housing requirements, with growing budgets allocated toward completion by 2030.
The initiative is expected to be funded by an internationally supervised trust fund to enhance financial oversight. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed strong support for the Arab-led initiative, offering UN cooperation. However, the absence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the summit indicates a lack of unified backing from the largest Arab economy, which is crucial for reconstruction efforts in the region.
As the humanitarian crisis continues in Gaza due to the Israeli-Hamas conflict, peace discussions are complicated by Israel’s announcement to halt all goods entering Gaza. Hamas and Israel remain at an impasse regarding ceasefire arrangements, with Hamas demanding a transition towards a permanent end to hostilities, while Israel insists on the complete demilitarization of Gaza.
The Cairo summit marked a significant endorsement by Arab leaders of Egypt’s plan for Gaza’s reconstruction without displacing Palestinians, juxtaposed against a controversial US proposal. While the plan aims to restore governance in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, prospects remain uncertain due to Israel’s opposition. Despite international endorsement, the effectiveness of the proposed solutions depends heavily on regional collaboration and a resolution to ongoing hostilities in Gaza.
Original Source: jordantimes.com
