Egypt is developing a plan to rebuild Gaza without forcing Palestinians out of the territory, countering US President Donald Trump’s proposal to depopulate the area. The Egyptian plan aims to establish “secure areas” within Gaza where Palestinians can live initially while international construction firms remove and rehabilitate the strip’s infrastructure.
Egyptian officials are discussing the plan with European diplomats, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, aiming to fund the reconstruction through an international conference. They also want to ensure that the Palestinian administration and police force are established in a way that respects Palestinian rights.
The proposal comes as Trump called for removing Gaza’s population of 2 million Palestinians to rebuild it into a “Riviera of the Middle East” without allowing them back. Palestinians have rejected this plan, while Egyptian officials and Saudi-backed Jordanians have refused to take in the displaced population.
Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper said the proposal is designed to counter Trump’s logic and any other plans that aim to change Gaza’s demographic structure. The plan calls for a three-phase reconstruction process that will take up to five years without removing Palestinians from Gaza, with an initial six-month “early recovery period” providing humanitarian aid.
The proposed reconstruction includes establishing Palestinian administration and police force, with reinforcement from Egyptian- and Western-trained forces. Hamas has expressed willingness to give up power in Gaza, while the Palestinian Authority has opposed any plans that exclude it.
Egypt’s plan is seen as a response to Israel’s 16-month campaign in Gaza, which devastated the territory and caused significant damage to infrastructure. The reconstruction effort will provide tens of thousands of jobs for Gaza’s population.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/egypt-gaza-reconstruction-plan-76941b11e6746078da113e36605ec462