Egypt Daily News – Following the adoption of the Egyptian plan for Gaza by the emergency Arab summit held yesterday in Cairo, Israel rejected it, arguing that it does not address the reality of the situation in the devastated Palestinian territory and asserting that Hamas cannot remain there.
The White House also rejected the Egyptian plan, stating that it does not adequately address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes stated that “the current plan does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable, and its residents cannot live among the rubble and unexploded ordnance.”
He also added that U.S. President Donald Trump remains committed to his vision of rebuilding Gaza as a “Hamas-free” zone, according to a report by Anadolu Agency.
However, he emphasized that the United States is “looking forward to further discussions” on this issue.
During his speech before Congress on Wednesday, Trump avoided delving into details regarding the Palestinian issue and Gaza, merely stating that he is determined to bring back hostages and achieve peace in the Middle East.
$53 Billion Over Two Phases
It is worth noting that Egypt’s plan, presented at the Arab summit yesterday, is estimated to cost $53 billion for the reconstruction of Gaza over five years. The plan outlined two phases for rebuilding and proposed the establishment of a fund under international supervision to ensure “efficient financing” as well as “transparency and oversight.”
Early Recovery Phase
The plan outlined that the early recovery phase, as it was termed, would span six months at a cost of $3 billion. During this period, efforts would commence to remove debris from the central axis (Salah al-Din Axis) and other areas of the Gaza Strip, along with the provision of 200,000 prefabricated temporary housing units.
During this phase, seven sites would be established to accommodate more than 1.5 million people, with Palestinian families being housed in temporary residential units (containers) designed to accommodate an average of six individuals per unit.
Additionally, the plan called for the renovation of 60,000 partially destroyed housing units, aiming to provide shelter for 360,000 people upon completion of the restoration process.
Reconstruction Phase
The reconstruction phase was divided into two parts, spanning a total of four and a half years. According to the document, the total financial requirements for the first phase amount to $20 billion, extending until 2027. This phase includes the construction of infrastructure, networks, service buildings, permanent housing units, and the reclamation of 20,000 acres of agricultural land.
Meanwhile, the second phase of reconstruction will require $30 billion in funding and will extend until 2030. It includes the establishment of industrial zones, a fishing port, a seaport, and an airport.
Who Will Govern Gaza?
The Egyptian plan indicated that “currently, and for the purpose of managing the next phase under a Palestinian decision, a Gaza Administration Committee is being formed to oversee the affairs of the sector during a six-month transitional period. This committee will be independent, composed of technocrats and non-factional figures, operating under the umbrella of the Palestinian government, as a step toward fully enabling the Palestinian Authority to return to Gaza.”
To achieve this goal, “Egypt and Jordan are working on training Palestinian police forces in preparation for their deployment in Gaza.”
The Palestinian Authority had governed the sector before being ousted by Hamas in 2007.
However, Israel has repeatedly asserted in recent months that it rejects handing over control of Gaza to either the Palestinian Authority or Hamas.
