Arab countries oppose US-backed construction blueprint for "New Gaza"

Arab nations are resisting a US-backed plan to rebuild a “New Gaza” in the Israeli-controlled section of the enclave, fearing it could cement a long-term partition of Palestinian territory.

Since the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect last month, Gaza has been divided along the so-called Yellow Line — with Israeli forces occupying one side and Hamas effectively controlling the other, where most Palestinians now live.

While Israeli and US officials have ruled out sending reconstruction funds to areas under Hamas control, several figures — including former US presidential adviser Jared Kushner — have suggested rebuilding the Israeli-held side first, arguing it could present Palestinians with a “positive alternative” to Hamas rule.

“There is a clash coming on this between Palestinians, Egyptians, many others, Qataris, Turks, and the US and Israel if the US continues to support the Israeli point of view on this, which would be totally outrageous,” one Arab diplomat told the Financial Times.

The proposal, which mirrors previous “Hamas-free bubbles” suggested by Israeli officials during the war, has triggered alarm among Arab, Muslim, and European states, all of which have voiced their objections to Washington.

Arab states are apprehensive that the temporary boundary along the Yellow Line could become permanent, according to the Al Mayadeen network. It cited Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who stressed that Gaza is “one and part of the Palestinian Territories” and called for a clear timeline for “Israel’s” withdrawal.

Another Arab diplomat warned that “the optics would be disastrous. It would look like we are building for Israel and not the Palestinians. We don’t want Gaza to become this sort of limbo between war and peace and [where] the current situation becomes the status quo.” The diplomat added that no Arab state would finance reconstruction under such conditions.

Trump’s 20-point plan reportedly envisions a phased Israeli withdrawal as an “international stabilization force” deploys — though its size, mandate, and contributors remain undefined.

By Nazrin Sadigova