Egypt Daily News – Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty stated on Monday that the success of Gaza’s reconstruction plan depends on establishing an independent committee to oversee the transitional period. He also mentioned a proposal for the UN Security Council to consider establishing an international presence in Gaza and the West Bank. Abdel Aty added that deploying international forces in these territories could be part of a framework leading to the creation of a Palestinian state.
This came during a meeting attended by the Egyptian Foreign Minister with foreign ambassadors and representatives of international organizations to discuss the rehabilitation of the healthcare sector in Gaza.
The meeting, held on Monday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs, was also attended by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population. A visual presentation on Gaza’s reconstruction plan was showcased during the event, that was attended with over 100 ambassadors and representatives of international organizations, Minister Abdel Aty outlined Egypt’s comprehensive plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, which was developed in coordination with the Palestinian government.
He highlighted key requirements for the success of the plan, including securing a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, managing the early recovery phase, and implementing reconstruction in a way that ensures Palestinian ownership.
He emphasized the need to treat Gaza as an integral part of Palestinian territory and to enable the Palestinian Authority to return to the Strip and assume its responsibilities. This would be achieved by establishing an independent, non-factional committee to manage Gaza’s affairs during a transitional period under the umbrella of the Palestinian government.
He also noted that Egypt and Jordan have begun training Palestinian police forces in preparation for their deployment in Gaza.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that Gaza’s reconstruction plan has received broad regional and international support. He added that Egypt is currently working on arranging a conference in Cairo to secure the necessary funding for implementing the plan.
Abdel Aty also mentioned a proposal for the UN Security Council to consider establishing an international presence in the Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the West Bank.
This could involve adopting a resolution to deploy peacekeeping or international protection forces with a clear mandate and timeframe, ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
For his part, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, presented a comprehensive visual report on the rehabilitation of Gaza’s healthcare sector.
He highlighted Egypt’s emergency health response and the medical services provided to over 107,000 Palestinian citizens who have crossed into Egypt since the start of the war, with costs exceeding $570 million.
He pointed out the deteriorating health situation in Gaza, marked by severe shortages of medical supplies and the shutdown of more than 70% of healthcare facilities. He also detailed Egypt’s proposal for rebuilding and strengthening the healthcare sector to improve efficiency and meet essential medical needs in Gaza, outlining the projected costs of the proposed initiatives.
