The Arab leaders, gathered at a summit in Cairo, unanimously approved a plan of $ 53 billion over five years to rebuild Gaza without moving its population.
This initiative, carried by Egypt, presents itself as a firm response to the proposal of the American president Donald Trump to “take” the coastal enclave and make it a luxury tourist destination. The plan aims to allow the two million Palestinians of Gaza to stay on their land while relaunching the economy and infrastructure in the region.
The project, which extends until 2030, provides for a complete overhaul of the Gaza Strip. The first phase would include the clearing of more than 50 million tonnes of debris from Israeli bombings, as well as the demining of unploded ammunition.
It also aims to build sustainable and ecological housing, the rehabilitation of agricultural land, and the creation of industrial zones and urban parks. In addition, the plan provides for the opening of an airport, a fishing port and a commercial port, projects initially envisaged in the Oslo agreements but never materialized.
Hamas welcomed this initiative, notably appreciating the refusal of Arab leaders to transfer the Palestinians outside their territories. However, Israel rejected the plan, believing that it does not take into account security reality. Oren Marmorstein, spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized the lack of mention of the attacks of October 7, 2023 in the final statement of the summit, while reaffirming the support of Israel at the Trump plan, which offers a resettlement of the Gazaouis elsewhere.
The White House, while welcoming Arab efforts, reiterated its opposition to any Hamas maintenance in power. Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the National Security Council, said President Trump was attached to his vision for Gaza, while recognizing the importance of regional contributions.
In parallel, the summit called for the holding of legislative and presidential elections in Palestine and the establishment of an interim administration in Gaza, waiting for a reformed Palestinian authority to take control. The Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, also asked the UN Security Council to deploy a peacekeeping force in the region.
This plan represents more than a simple reconstruction project. It is an act of peaceful resistance, a message of hope addressed to a people who suffered so much, and a courageous attempt to re-imagine a possible future beyond the cycles of violence.
