US rejects Egyptian plan for Gaza reconstruction, sticking to Trump’s vision

Spokesman for the US National Security Council Brian Hughes has said that the US administration officially rejected the Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Hughes noted that this plan was proposed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and endorsed by leaders at the Arab League summit, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media. 

He stated that the Egyptian plan for Gaza's reconstruction failed to acknowledge that the Gaza Strip was uninhabitable, and that people could not survive amidst the ruins and emphasised that President Trump remained committed to his vision of a Gaza free of Hamas.

Hughes also mentioned that the US was awaiting the continuation of negotiations that would bring peace and prosperity to the region. The Egyptian plan, which was presented at the Arab League summit, aims to reconstruct Gaza over a five-year period, with an estimated cost of $53 billion. 

The United Nations had previously estimated that the reconstruction would require around $50 billion. The Egyptian proposal includes removing Hamas from power in Gaza and establishing a temporary administration led by technocrats, under the control of Arab, Muslim, and Western nations. Egypt and Jordan would take charge of training Gaza’s police forces as part of the broader effort.

Ahead of the 2024 election, US presidential candidate Donald Trump emphasised his intention to bring “peace” to the Middle East. However, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump revealed his true vision for the region: the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population to transform Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East." He proposed that Egypt and Jordan take in the displaced Palestinians, while the US would take control of the coastal area. In an interview, Trump made it clear that the relocation of Palestinians would be permanent, with no option for them to return.

By Naila Huseynova