The US and Israel have rejected the Arab plan for the post-war reconstruction of Gaza, in favor of Trump’s own vision

The Arab plan for Gaza’s post-war recovery has been rejected by the United States and Israel, who continue to endorse Trump’s proposal for control.

The Arab proposal for the post-war reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which would have permitted the 2.1 million Palestinians residing there to remain in their current residences, has been rejected by the United States and Israel.

The proposal, which was endorsed by Arab leaders at a summit in Cairo, is their alternative to President Donald Trump’s proposal for the United States to permanently resettle the population of Gaza.

The Arab plan, which proposes the temporary governance of Gaza by a committee of independent experts and the deployment of international peacekeepers, was warmly received by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

However, both the White House and the Israeli foreign ministry stated that it failed to acknowledge the realities in Gaza and remained committed to Trump’s vision.

The summit was held in the context of increasing apprehension regarding the potential collapse of Gaza’s fragile armistice agreement following the conclusion of the six-week initial phase (last Saturday).

Israel has obstructed the entry of aid into the region in order to compel Hamas to accept a new US proposal for a temporary truce extension. During this extension, additional captives held in Gaza would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has maintained that the second phase should commence as previously agreed upon, resulting in the cessation of the conflict and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops.

At an emergency Arab League summit on Tuesday, Egypt presented the $53 billion (£41 billion) Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza following the conclusion of the conflict.

In a statement that endorsed the plan, the categorical rejection of any form of displacement of the Palestinian people was emphasized, describing such a concept as “a gross violation of international law, a crime against humanity, and ethnic cleansing.”

Reconstruction is planned to occur over a five-year period, with approximately 1.5 million displaced Gazans being relocated to 200,000 prefabricated housing units and 60,000 repaired dwellings. The plan outlines the process in three phases.

The initial phase, which would span six months and incur a cost of $3 billion, would involve the removal of millions of tons of debris and any unexploded ordnance.

The second phase, which is expected to last for two years and incur a cost of $20 billion, will involve the reconstruction of housing and utilities. An industrial zone, two seaports, and an airport would be constructed during the third phase, which is expected to require an additional two years and a total cost of $30 billion.

The Arab plan also suggests that a “administrative committee” comprised of independent Palestinian technocrats oversee post-war Gaza for a transitional period while “working toward empowering the Palestinian Authority to return.”

In 2007, Hamas, which is proscribed as a terrorist organization by Israel, the US, the UK, and other countries, seized complete control of Gaza, evicting forces from the Fatah-dominated PA in violent confrontations a year after winning parliamentary elections.

The PA was entrusted to administer portions of the occupied West Bank.

At the summit, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who serves as the head of the Palestinian Authority, expressed his approval of the Arab plan and encouraged Donald Trump to endorse it.

Hamas expressed its gratitude for “the Arab position that rejects attempts to displace our people.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly disqualified Hamas and the Palestinian Authority from any future involvement in Gaza.

Nevertheless, Israel’s foreign ministry promptly denied the Arab League’s statement that endorsed the Egyptian plan, stating that it “fails to acquaint itself with the realities of the situation following 7 October 2023 and remains rooted in outdated perspectives.”

“The Gazans now have the opportunity to make a free choice based on their free will, thanks to President Trump’s proposal.” This should be promoted! it included.

“Instead, Arab states have rejected this opportunity without providing it with a fair chance and continue to level baseless accusations against Israel.”

Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the White House National Security Council, stated that the Arab plan failed to acknowledge the fact that Gaza is presently uninhabitable and that its residents are unable to live in a territory that is littered with unexploded ordnance and debris.

President Trump maintains his commitment to the reconstruction of Gaza in a manner that is devoid of Hamas. We anticipate additional discussions to facilitate the establishment of peace and prosperity in the region.

Last month, Trump suggested that the United States would “own” Gaza and relocate its population in order to rebuild the area and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

He stated that the displaced Palestinians would not have the right of return, as they would have access to “significantly superior housing” in Jordan, Egypt, and other countries.

Hossam Zaki, the Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League, declared on Wednesday that Trump’s strategy was intolerable.

“It is predicated on the coerced displacement of Palestinians from their homes and land.”

He stated, “This is a violation of international law, and we have repeatedly stated that this is not an appropriate approach to addressing this man-made crisis.”

“This is a conflict that Israel has initiated in part to expel Palestinians from their territory,” he continued.

He also described the Israeli foreign ministry’s response to the Arab proposal as “against morals and against humanity.”

Palestinians are apprehensive about the possibility of a recurrence of the Nakba, the Arabic term for “catastrophe,” which occurred in 1948, during which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes and forced to flee their homelands.

Gaza, where they and their descendants constitute three-quarters of the populace, was the destination of numerous refugees. According to the United Nations, the West Bank is home to an additional 900,000 registered refugees, while 3.4 million others reside in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

In response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which approximately 1,200 individuals were killed and 251 were taken captive, the Israeli military initiated a campaign to eliminate Hamas.

According to the health ministry of Gaza, which is administered by Hamas, over 48,400 individuals have perished since that time.

Additionally, the majority of Gaza’s populace has been relocated on numerous occasions. The healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems have collapsed, and there are shortages of food, fuel, medication, and shelter. It is estimated that nearly 70% of buildings have been damaged or destroyed.