Egypt unveils Gaza reconstruction plan after US pressure on Trump proposal

Egypt has unveiled new details of its plan to address the situation in Gaza, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for the relocation of residents from the region.

According to Arab media, Egypt's proposal centres around the establishment of a commission under the oversight of the Palestinian Authority (PA), excluding the militant group Hamas, Caliber.Az reports.

The commission would be responsible for the reconstruction of Gaza, with Egyptian and other international companies tasked with executing the recovery efforts.

In order to safeguard the operations of these companies, security forces from Arab nations or international peacekeepers would be deployed. The plan also highlights previous rejections of similar proposals by Israel, which has instead favoured alternative approaches.

Recent reports suggest the U.S. Department of Defence has begun to exert pressure on Egypt to accept Trump's relocation plan, with Pentagon officials warning the Egyptian military that continued opposition could lead to delays in U.S. security aid.

To recap, Jordan’s King Abdullah II became the first Arab leader to meet US President Donald Trump since his second term began in January. The meeting, held on February 11, placed Abdullah in a delicate position, as Trump has pressured Jordan to accept displaced Palestinians from Gaza, where Israel has been conducting military operations since October 2023.

The US has proposed taking control of Gaza, a move critics argue could amount to ethnic cleansing. Trump maintained that US control of Gaza would bring stability to the region. However, both Jordan and Egypt have rejected accepting displaced Palestinians.

The meeting comes as tensions rise over a ceasefire in Gaza, with Israel threatening to resume bombing if Hamas does not release all captives by Saturday. Abdullah did not directly oppose Trump, instead alluding to a potential alternative plan to be presented by Egypt.

By Aghakazim Guliyev