Egypt has presented a plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which has been endorsed and supported by fellow Arab nations. The $53 billion plan serves as a counter to US President Donald Trump's plan for the war-torn strip, aims to rebuild the war-torn strip in phases, starting with the construction of housing of displaced Palestinians.
As the United States and Israel reject this plan, Egypt's foreign minister has stated that around 100 countries are slated to participate in a conference to discuss Gaza's reconstruction.
As per Egyptian foreign minister Dr Badr Abdelatty, there is an Arab consensus to adopt Cairo's plan for reconstruction as it does not involve the mass displacement of Palestinians from the strip.
On Tuesday, the secretary general of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Ghe announced that Egypt's plan for Gaza is not "an Arab plan."
What Is Egypt's Plan For Gaza?
In its 91-page document, Egypt has presented a detailed phase-wise plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Egypt's plan also goes beyond reconstruction of Gaza and brings into focus - the future of politics in Gaza and the rights of Palestinians.
There are three stages to Egypt's plan - Interim measures, reconstructions and governance.
Interim measures - or Phase 1 - would last for about six months and will be managed by a committee under the Palestinian Authority. This phase will focus on cleaning and clearing the rubble and restore buildings in the area.
A total of 200,000 temporary housing units will be converted into permanent housing units for the 1.2 million population of Gaza.
Phase 2 will be the key reconstruction phase. In this, the cleaning and construction will continue, and services such as water, electricity, telecom and waste management will be restored. As per the Egyptian government, the second and third phases will be carried out over a combined four or five years.
The last part of Phase 2 will focus on building an industrial zone, fishing port, airport and a commercial port.
The third phase will focus on governance. Under this, the PA committee will oversee humanitarian aid and governance in the strip. As per Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, if conditions allow, Gaza would then head to elections to vote for its next leader.
As far as the security of Gaza is concerned, Egypt and Jordan have vowed to train Palestinian police officers. The two Arab nations have also called on the UN to consider sending a peacekeeping mission to oversee governance.
How Much Does The Plan Cost?
This three phase plan will cost a total of $53 billion, with three billion dollars for the first phase, $20 billion for the second and $30 billion for the third and hopefully final phase.
The funds for the plan will be sourced from a variety of international sources, such as the UN and other international financial organisations. Foreign and private sector investments will also be encouraged for the reconstruction of Gaza.
What Is Donald Trump's Plan For Gaza?
Trump raised several concerns after the White House shared an AI video depicting his vision for Gaza. The video, which was initially circulated online for satirical purposes, was adopted by the White House as a legitimate plan.
The Trump administration's plan - Middle East Riviera - has been backed by Israel as well.
This plan focuses on the reconstruction of Gaza but during this time the US will "take over" the strip. This plan hinted to long-term US control over the Palestinian conflict and the mass displacement of Gazans.
Trump earlier hinted that this displacement could last 12 to 15 years or even more. In another statement to FOX News, the US president also hinted that the Palestinians displaced during this period will not be allowed to return because “they’re going to have much better housing... a permanent place for them.”
While Trump has shared mixed signals about the plan, White House Press Secretary has stated Karoline Leavitt assured reporters that Palestinian displacement would be “temporary” and that no U.S. troops or tax dollars would be involved in Gaza.
