Arab countries have adopted Egypt’s plan to reconstruct Gaza, offering a potential path forward after Israel’s devastating war on the Palestinian enclave.
Egypt announced plans on Tuesday while holding an Arab League summit in the capital, Cairo.
The plan provides an alternative to President Donald Trump’s proposal to abolish the Gaza Strip in what critics call ethnic cleansing, in what they say. Under Egyptian plans, the Palestinian population of Gaza was not forced to leave the territory.
Trump had insisted that Egypt and Jordan would take Palestinians who had been driven out of Gaza by his plans, but that was soon rejected, indicating that the US is open to hearing what the Arab plans for the postwar reconstruction of Gaza will be.
At the start of the summit, Egyptian President Abdel Fatta El-Sisi said Trump could achieve peace in the Israeli-Palestine conflict.
Based on Al Jazeera’s own report, there is everything you need to know about the plan, as well as a draft plan reported by Reuters News Agency and the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram.
What does Egyptian plan seek?
The 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. Its purpose is to reconstruct Gaza, which Israel has almost completely destroyed – maintain peace and security, and reaffirm the governance of the Palestinian Authority (PA);
How does the plan aim to rebuild Gaza?
A six-month interim period will require a Palestinian Technocrat committee – operating under the control of the PA – to clean the tile rub from Sarah Al Din Street, the main north-south expressway in the Gaza Strip.
Once the roads become clear, 200,000 temporary housing units will be built to accommodate 1.2 million and about 60,000 damaged buildings.
According to the blueprint, long-term reconstruction will require more four to five years after the provisional measures are completed. Over that period, the plan aims to not only build at least 400,000 permanent homes, but also rebuild Gaza’s port and international airport.
Gradually, basic regulations such as water, waste systems, communication services, and electricity will also be restored.
The plan further calls for the establishment of an Administration and Management Council, which will be a financial fund to support the interim governing bodies of Gaza.
Additionally, meetings will be held for international donors, providing the funding needed for reconstruction and long-term development within the strip.
Who will be in charge of Gaza?
The plan calls for a group of “independent Palestinian technocrats” to manage the issue of Gaza that will replace Hamas.
According to Elssi, the Technocrat government is responsible for overseeing humanitarian aid and paving the way for the PA to manage Gaza.
The plan doesn’t mention elections, but at a summit on Tuesday, Pennsylvania President Mahmoud Abbas said that if the situation is allowed, the election could take place next year.
On the security front, Egypt and Jordan have committed to training Palestinian police officers and deploying them to Gaza. The two countries are also urging the UN Security Council to consider approving a peacekeeping mission to oversee governance in Gaza until the reconstruction is complete.
How much does this cost?
Egypt is seeking $53 billion to fund the reconstruction of Gaza, and is distributed in three stages.
In the first six months, it would cost $3 billion to remove tiled rubs from Salah Al-Din Street, build temporary homes and restore partially damaged homes.
The second phase takes two years and costs $20 billion. Work on removing the tile rub will continue at this stage, with the establishment of a utility network and the construction of more housing units.
Phase 3 costs $30 billion and takes two and a half years. This includes the completion of housing for the entire population of Gaza, the establishment of a first stage of an industrial area, the construction of fishing and commercial ports, and the construction of airports.
The funds will be sourced from a variety of international sources, including investments in the United Nations, international financial institutions, and foreign and private sectors, according to the plan.
Does the plan work?
There are still many variables that can complicate the plan. Perhaps most importantly, it is unclear whether Hamas, Israel, or the United States agrees to it.
Hamas welcomed the reconstruction plan and previously agreed to the Technocrat government. However, it is not so clear whether it will accept the return of the PA. It will face recognition from critics that it has returned to Gaza, which itself is behind Israeli tanks. And while Hamas may be willing to discuss removal from governance, it is that the Egyptian plan adopted by the Arab League did not discuss.
Israel has made it clear that it is a red line and Hamas will not be allowed to maintain the weapon. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will not allow the PA to return to Gaza.
In response to the adoption of Egypt’s plans, Israel said Arab countries need to “have freed from past constraints and work together to create a future of regional stability and security.” A statement from Israeli Foreign Ministry instead supported Trump’s Gaza evacuation plan. This depopulated Gaza after repeated years of calls from Israel’s far right.
There is also the question of whether the US president will abandon his idea of the “Middle Eastern Riviera” that the US controlled for Egyptian plans. It is difficult to predict what Trump’s position will be like, especially if Israel opposes Egyptian plans.
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