Arab states are racing against time to develop a counter-plan to US President Donald Trump’s proposal for the United States to take control of Gaza and resettle its Palestinians. The plan, announced last month, has sparked widespread outrage among Palestinians and Arab countries, with many fearing it could lead to a repeat of the 1948 “Nakba” disaster.
The proposed deal would see US forces take control of Gaza’s borders and security, with some Palestinians resettled in Jordan and Egypt. However, Gulf Arab countries plus Egypt and Jordan are set to meet later this week in Riyadh to discuss an alternative plan, led by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The proposed counter-plan, dubbed the “Egyptian solution,” would see Cairo pledge $20 billion in funding over three years, mostly from wealthy Gulf states. However, details of the plan remain unclear, and stakeholders are struggling to agree on governance issues, including who will foot the bill for Gaza’s reconstruction, estimated at over $50 billion.
Palestinian leaders fear that Trump’s proposal could destabilize the region and lead to a repeat of the “Nakba,” which saw almost 800,000 Palestinians flee or were forced from their homes in 1948. Egypt and Jordan are also concerned about potential security threats, with Sisi warning that resettling large numbers of Palestinians could include members of Hamas.
The stakes are high, with both Arab states and Palestinians eager to avoid a repeat of the chaos and destruction seen in Gaza during previous conflicts. As the clock ticks down to the March 4 Arab League summit in Cairo, where details of the counter-plan will be revealed, one thing is clear: the future of Gaza hangs in the balance.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/arab-states-scramble-counter-trumps-gaza-riviera-plan-2025-02-21