France, Britain, Italy and Germany say the $53 billion plan marks a “realistic” path to rebuilding Gaza, which was ravaged after a 15-month war.
The Islamic Cooperation Organization (OIC) and several European countries supported the recently announced Arab Plan for Gaza after 15 months of Israel’s devastating war on the besieged enclaves.
Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the UK said in a joint statement on Saturday that they supported Gaza’s reconstruction plan at a cost of $53 billion.
“This plan presents a realistic path to restructuring Gaza and, if promised, promises prompt and sustainable improvements to the catastrophic conditions of living for Palestinians living in Gaza,” the statement said.
Hamas added that “government of Gaza should not pose a threat to Israel,” and that the four countries “support the Palestinian authority and the central role in implementing its reform agenda.”
The plan was created by Egypt and was adopted by Arab leaders at the Arab Federation Summit held in Cairo this month.
Earlier on Saturday, the 57-member OICs officially adopted the plan at an emergency meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
An institution representing the world of Muslims urged that “the international community and international and regional fundraising agencies will promptly provide the support they need for their plans.”
The Arab support plan is seen as a counter-proposed proposal to President Trump’s proposal to withdraw from the Gaza Strip in what is known as ethnic cleansing under US control, in what is ‘developed’ enclaves under US control.
The Arab Plan consists of three main stages: interim measures, reconstruction and governance.
The first phase lasts about six months, with the next two phases taking place in a total of four to five years.
The goal is to reconstruct Gaza, which Israel has almost completely destroyed. It is to maintain peace and security and reaffirm the governance of the Palestinian Authorities (PA) of the territory.
“I don’t meet expectations”
However, the Arab plan has already been criticized and rejected by the US and Israel.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters Thursday.
But Trump’s Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkov has given him a more positive response, calling it “a good first step from the Egyptians.”
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