Egypt Daily News – Reuters reported that the draft of the final statement of the Arab Summit, which is set to convene later on Tuesday, has adopted the Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of Gaza. The plan estimates the reconstruction cost at 53 billion dollars and is expected to take a total of five years.
The Egyptian plan, consisting of 112 pages, includes maps illustrating how Gaza’s lands will be redeveloped, along with dozens of AI-generated colored images depicting housing projects, gardens, and community centers.
According to the draft cited by Reuters, early recovery in Gaza will take six months, covering debris removal and the installation of temporary housing. The first phase will last two years and involve the construction of 200,000 housing units.
The first phase will cost 20 billion dollars, while the second phase, with a budget of 30 billion dollars, will take two and a half years. It will include the construction of another 200,000 housing units and an airport in Gaza. The plan also features a commercial port, a technology hub, and beachfront hotels.
Arab leaders will call for elections to be held in all Palestinian territories within one year, provided the necessary conditions are met. The draft also supports the Palestinian decision to form an administrative committee composed of qualified individuals from Gaza to manage its affairs during a transitional period.
The draft of the final statement of the Arab Summit, set to convene later on Tuesday in Cairo, adopts the Egyptian plan for the future of Gaza.
It indicates that the draft welcomes the convening of an international conference for Gaza’s reconstruction in Cairo later this month and calls on the international community and financial institutions to provide swift support for the Egyptian plan.
The draft also estimates the total cost of Gaza’s reconstruction at 53 billion dollars.
Arab sources participating in the Arab Summit, held in the Egyptian capital on Tuesday, revealed an Arab consensus on adopting a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Gaza based on a specialized Egyptian study.
Sources said that the Arab Summit is conditionally prepared pending reforms within the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, to empower and support the Palestinian Authority in forming a working committee to manage Gaza’s affairs and assume security responsibilities in the territory.
Drafts currently under discussion at the summit lean towards assigning Egypt and Jordan the task of rehabilitating and training Palestinian security forces to maintain public order in Gaza.
Here are the key points from the draft:
- A “Good Governance Assistance Mission” will temporarily replace the government in Gaza for an unspecified period, overseeing humanitarian aid and initiating reconstruction efforts.
- The draft does not specify who will lead this mission but states that it will rely on Palestinian expertise from Gaza and beyond to expedite recovery.
- The plan’s preamble states that significant international funding for Gaza’s reconstruction will not be available as long as Hamas remains the dominant political and military force controlling local governance.
- The draft envisions an “International Stabilization Force,” primarily composed of Arab countries, taking over security responsibilities from Hamas, with the eventual establishment of a new local police force.
- A Steering and Management Council will oversee and guide the security and administrative bodies in Gaza.
- The council will include key Arab countries, members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, EU member states, and other stakeholders.
- The plan anticipates that council members will establish a fund to support Gaza’s interim governing authority and organize donor conferences to secure contributions for long-term reconstruction and development.
- The draft calls on the council to coordinate with an advisory body representing civil society, consisting of academics, NGO leaders, and other prominent figures.
- The draft strongly rejects the U.S. proposal for the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
Seven sites and containers accommodating six individuals… Where will Gaza’s displaced residents be housed during reconstruction?
The Egyptian plan includes providing temporary housing for displaced residents in Gaza during the reconstruction process through several alternatives.
These alternatives consist of designated areas within the sector, with seven sites capable of accommodating over 1.5 million people. Displaced Palestinians will be housed in temporary residential units (containers), each accommodating an average of six individuals.
- Site 1: Rafah – capacity of approximately 213,000 individuals.
- Site 2: Khan Younis – capacity of approximately 223,000 individuals.
- Site 3: Deir al-Balah – capacity of approximately 184,000 individuals.
- Site 4: Gaza – capacity of approximately 353,000 individuals.
- Site 5: North Gaza – capacity of approximately 197,000 individuals.
- Site 6: Gaza – capacity of approximately 176,000 individuals.
- Site 7: Gaza – capacity of approximately 176,000 individuals.
Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the movement is unaware of such a plan. Abu Zuhri affirmed that “the future of Gaza will only be decided by Palestinians. Hamas rejects any attempts to impose projects, establish a non-Palestinian administration, or allow foreign forces on Gaza’s soil.”
