Newspaper: Egypt develops Gaza reconstruction plan without Palestinian displacement

Egypt is preparing a plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip without resettling its Palestinian population, countering a proposal previously suggested by former US President Donald Trump.

Trump's plan involved placing Gaza under the US administration and relocating its residents to neighbouring countries in the Middle East.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi confirmed that his government is working on a reconstruction initiative that ensures Palestinians remain in Gaza. Following Trump's announcement, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry swiftly responded, emphasizing the necessity of resolving the crisis without displacing the local population.

According to the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram, al-Sisi's proposal envisions the creation of “safe zones” within Gaza, where Palestinians can reside temporarily while Egyptian and international construction firms work to restore the Strip’s infrastructure, per Caliber.Az.

These zones would be equipped with mobile housing and humanitarian aid, and the project is expected to generate tens of thousands of jobs for Gaza’s residents.

A key aspect of Egypt’s plan is the establishment of a new governing body in Gaza that would be independent of both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. This administration would oversee reconstruction efforts and maintain order within the enclave.

Egypt has already begun diplomatic discussions regarding the proposal. Al-Sisi reportedly secured support from French President Emmanuel Macron, and further deliberations are expected to take place at the upcoming Arab summit in Riyadh.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty confirmed that Cairo is “actively developing a comprehensive, multi-phase plan for the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.” Al-Ahram also reported that Egypt aims to finalize the plan by next week, with the first phase set to commence after the emergency Arab summit in Cairo, currently scheduled for February 27.

Ahead of this, Saudi Arabia will host officials from Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan on February 22 in Riyadh for a five-party Arab meeting to discuss Cairo’s proposed redevelopment initiative.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who visited Saudi Arabia on February 17 as part of a regional tour, indicated that Washington is open to alternative proposals. “If Arab countries have a better plan, that’s great,” Rubio said in a radio interview.

Trump's proposal surfaced amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The US president had envisioned transforming Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” asserting that displaced Palestinians would not be allowed to return.

However, Gaza’s residents have firmly rejected the notion of leaving their homeland, while neighbouring countries — including Egypt — have made it clear that they are unwilling to accept an influx of two million displaced Palestinians.

By Tamilla Hasanova