The foreign minister of Egypt, Badr Abdelatty, has announced that Cairo is ‘actively creating’ a reconstruction strategy for Gaza.
The Egyptian government is formulating a plan aimed at rebuilding Gaza while ensuring the current population of the Palestinian territory is not displaced. This initiative comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to “take over” the area and relocate its inhabitants.
As reported by the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper on Monday, Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that Cairo is “actively developing a comprehensive, multi-phase plan for the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.”
The publication further noted that Egypt anticipates completing the plan “by next week,” with the inaugural phase expected to commence “after the emergency Arab summit in Cairo,” which is presently set for February 27.
Prior to this, Saudi Arabia will gather officials from Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan on Thursday as part of a five-nation Arab meeting in Riyadh, aimed at discussing Cairo’s proposed reconstruction initiative.
Since returning to the White House in late January, Trump’s suggestions regarding the U.S. potentially “taking over” and “owning” Gaza—along with plans to resettle its Palestinian population of over 2 million—have triggered international backlash. He has also proposed transforming the area into a tourist destination.
Trump has urged both Egypt and Jordan to accept Gaza’s residents as part of his vision, a suggestion that has been firmly rejected by both nations and condemned as “ethnic cleansing” by various human rights organizations.
An element of Cairo’s strategy aims to establish “secure areas” within Gaza, where Palestinians can reside while numerous Egyptian and international construction firms work on rehabilitating the strip’s war-damaged infrastructure, according to Al-Ahram.
The reconstruction operation is expected to unfold in three phases, spanning up to five years, as noted by two Egyptian officials who spoke to The Associated Press (AP) on the condition of anonymity.
‘Challenge the Logic of American President Trump’
The Al-Ahram publication suggests that Egypt’s development of its plan is intended to “challenge the logic of American President Trump,” in addition to countering “any other proposals that seek to alter the geographic and demographic landscape of the Gaza Strip.”
During the reconstruction period, Palestinians will be permitted to remain in Gaza, with three “safe zones” established to accommodate them during the initial six-month “early recovery phase,” as reported by the AP officials.
Mobile homes and shelters will be constructed in these safe zones, while humanitarian assistance will be facilitated. The effort is also expected to create tens of thousands of jobs for Gaza’s residents, according to the anonymous Egyptian officials.
Cairo has discussed potential financing avenues for the plan with European diplomats and Arab partners, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, as stated by the AP, referencing Arab and European diplomatic sources.
A proposal for an international conference on Gaza’s reconstruction has also been suggested, according to two sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity as discussions are ongoing.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed his commitment to Trump’s vision for a “transformed Gaza.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently in Saudi Arabia to advocate for Trump’s initiative.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz announced the establishment of a special directorate focused on the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from the coastal region.
Katz’s office indicated that Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has proposed an initiative wherein “any resident of Gaza wishing to emigrate to a third country” would receive “extensive assistance” for the process.
Netanyahu has vowed that “neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority” will govern Gaza following Israel’s 15-month military campaign in the area, which has led to the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians and triggered a humanitarian crisis.
Hamas has expressed a willingness to relinquish power, with a spokesperson stating to the AP on Sunday that the organization would accept the formation of either a unity government without its involvement or a committee of technocrats to administer the enclave.
