Arab Leaders Gather in Saudi Arabia to Counter Trump’s Gaza Plans: NPR

By
Joe Killer
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This handout picture shows (from L) Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein and UAE's National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a picture in Riyadh on February 21, 2025.

This handout picture shows (from L) Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and UAE’s National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan standing together for a picture in Riyadh on February 21, 2025.

Saudi Royal Palace/AFP via Getty

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Saudi Royal Palace/AFP via Getty

DUBAI — Unlike typical protocols accompanying meetings of Arab leaders, there was no final statement, press conference, or information about the duration of the meeting. Instead, a single photograph emerged on Friday depicting Arab leaders gathered in Saudi Arabia during what the kingdom referred to as an “informal brotherly gathering,” engaging in important discussions regarding Gaza’s future.


TOPSHOT - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is greeted by Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs Abdulmajeed al-Smari at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on February 17, 2025. (Photo by Evelyn Hockstein / POOL / AFP) (Photo by EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The unusual secrecy surrounding this high-profile meeting reflects the delicate nature of discussions for Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, along with the leaders from other Gulf states, Egypt’s president, and Jordan’s king, all of whom participated in the gathering.

While the solitary image from their meeting depicts them united, the crucial matter is whether they will achieve an agreement and rally around an Egyptian strategy for Gaza that markedly contrasts with President Donald Trump’s recent proposals.

Arab nations are hurriedly working to counter Trump’s vision for Gaza, which suggests U.S. ownership of the territory, involves the permanent displacement of its 2 million Palestinians to countries such as Egypt and Jordan, and transforms the area into a real estate venture.

This plan has strained the already fragile framework of a cease-fire in Gaza after more than 15 months of warfare and Israeli aerial bombardments that have devastated the region and resulted in the deaths of at least 48,000 individuals, predominantly women and children, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The conflict ignited when Hamas militants launched an assault on Israel, claiming approximately 1,200 lives there and taking hostages in October 2023.


In this photo, President Trump and Jordanian King Abdullah II sit on armchairs at the White House. Both are wearing dark blue suits, and Abdullah II is on the left, while Trump is on the right. A fireplace is behind them.

Arab nations, eager to maintain favorable relations with President Trump, have dismissed the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza while refraining from openly criticizing Trump’s proposal. Both Egypt and Jordan consider the plan a destabilizing factor for their security and the region as a whole. The UAE, which has a close relationship with Israel and opposes Hamas, has underscored that the reconstruction of Gaza must be tied to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Hamas and many Palestinians have referred to Trump’s proposal as “ethnic cleansing,” whereas Israel’s Prime Minister has welcomed it as a commendable idea encouraging what he describes as “voluntary migration.” The Israeli military has been tasked to prepare to facilitate the proposal.

However, it is not only Israeli support that is vital. Any reconstruction efforts in Gaza will necessitate Arab backing to help fund rebuilding and potentially deploy troops for security measures.

Arab leaders assess Egypt’s proposal

While details of Egypt’s plan have not been revealed, the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper in Cairo reported it entails creating “safe areas” for Palestinians to inhabit as Egyptian and international construction firms clear debris and rebuild infrastructure.


People head towards their homes in the Shijaiyah neighborhood, Gaza City, on January 28, 2025. Displaced Palestinians return following a ceasefire, finding their neighborhoods in ruins.

The Associated Press reports that the multi-phase initiative involves Hamas relinquishing control of Gaza, a stance the group expressed willingness to take, whilst insisting on the right to keep its arms against Israel. Additionally, the Egyptian proposal requires restructuring Gaza’s police force.

However, it remains uncertain whether the plan sufficiently addresses the concerns of Gulf Arab states, which will likely refrain from investing billions for Gaza’s reconstruction while the threat of violence persists and Israeli airstrikes remain a worrying reality.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority, situated in the occupied West Bank, claims to have its own vision for Gaza which it intends to unveil in early March during a broader Arab League summit in Cairo.

Gaza’s precarious future

With just over a week left in the existing ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, talks for the more intricate second phase—which would entail a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the release of all outstanding Israeli captives, and a conclusive determination to end the conflict—have yet to commence. Right-wing ministers in Israel’s government are advocating for a return to hostilities, arguing that Hamas has not been effectively neutralized.


Displaced Palestinians making their way back on foot from the southern regions to their homes in the north via Al Rashid Road after the ceasefire agreement in Gaza Strip on January 28, 2025.

Recent assessments by the U.N., World Bank, and European Union indicate that Gaza, alongside the occupied West Bank, will require a minimum of $53 billion for reconstruction and recovery over the upcoming decade. The U.N. reports that 95% of Gaza’s schools have been compromised or destroyed, with over 90% of homes, most hospitals, roads, water systems, and agricultural lands similarly affected. More specifically, nearly 300,000 residences have been completely obliterated due to Israeli airstrikes.

White House Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff plays a crucial role in mediating efforts to achieve ceasefire terms and secure the release of hostages. He recently visited Gaza alongside Israeli soldiers. While speaking to Trump’s son-in-law and advisor, Jared Kushner, at a summit in Miami, hosted by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, Witkoff commented on the dire conditions in Gaza.

“I sat in Gaza with a bulletproof vest on, looking at the scenery there, Jared, and I cannot fathom why anyone would choose to live there today. It seems illogical to me,” he remarked, adding that creating “a lot of cleanup, imagination, and a master plan” similar to Trump’s proposal would be necessary to alter the future.