Arab leaders are scheduled to convene in Saudi Arabia on Friday for their inaugural meeting aimed at addressing US President Donald Trump’s proposal for the US to assume control of Gaza, displace its Palestinian inhabitants, and transform it into a Middle Eastern “Riviera.”
This gathering will include representatives from Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf Arab states, and is set to occur prior to a larger Arab summit on March 4, as announced by Saudi Arabia. Following this, a meeting of Islamic nations is anticipated, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry.
Initially described by Egypt in early February as an “emergency summit,” this meeting comes five weeks after Trump first introduced his plan, highlighting the challenges faced by Arab nations in establishing a cohesive response.
Conflicting information has surfaced regarding the Arab strategy.
A report from Egypt’s state-run Al Ahram Weekly indicated that Cairo is advocating for a 10-to-20-year initiative to reconstruct Gaza with funding from Gulf Arab countries, while excluding Hamas from governance and permitting the 2.1 million Palestinian residents to remain.
Al Ahram, referencing Egyptian sources, noted that the proposal has not yet garnered unanimous support from Arab nations, who are divided on the governance of Gaza. CNN has reached out to the Egyptian government for further comments.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated on Wednesday that his country could completely reconstruct Gaza within three years, aiming to improve its condition beyond what it was prior to the conflict, although he did not specify the methods for achieving this goal. Should a lasting ceasefire be established in Gaza in the near future, this timeline could potentially align with the conclusion of Trump’s presidential term.
However, many experts believe that the full reconstruction of the region would require a significantly longer period.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the World Bank, the European Union, and the United Nations indicated that merely restoring essential services—such as healthcare and education, along with debris removal—would take approximately three years. They estimated that the comprehensive rebuilding of the heavily damaged area would take around ten years and cost upwards of $50 billion, with housing alone projected to require $15 billion. The Egyptian prime minister noted that his country’s strategy takes these evaluations into account.
Additionally, the Egyptian government and local real estate developers are looking to participate in the reconstruction efforts, which could involve contracts valued in the billions.
“We possess the necessary experience, which we have successfully applied in Egypt,” Madbouly remarked during a press conference in the new administrative capital of Egypt. “We are capable of rebuilding the Gaza Strip in a manner that surpasses its previous state—three years is indeed a feasible timeline for this endeavor.”
Trump stated on Wednesday that he had not yet reviewed the Egyptian proposal.
A “long and complex journey”
Despite the pressing requests from Arab nations for a robust counterproposal, the World Bank, EU, and UN have indicated that the reconstruction of Gaza is a “long and complex” process.
This effort will likely require addressing governance and financial issues with international support—topics that may prove challenging to navigate.
Any reconstruction initiative would be rendered ineffective if the fragile ceasefire in Gaza collapses, leading the region back into conflict.
A source familiar with the reconstruction efforts mentioned that funding could come from both public and private donations, likely sourced from the EU and Gulf Arab states, and noted that an international donor conference for Gaza might be scheduled for April.
The success of the plan could also be jeopardized if Israel, which has controlled Gaza’s border long before Hamas’ attack in October 2023, chooses not to cooperate. Thus far, Israel has supported Trump’s strategy to reduce Gaza’s population, and its defense ministry recently announced plans to establish a “Directorate for the Voluntary Departure of Gaza Residents” to assist those Gazans who wish to emigrate.
Hamas and Israel reached an agreement last month regarding the initial phase of a truce, which may lead to a permanent ceasefire. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on Tuesday that discussions will commence on a possible second phase of the truce, albeit two weeks later than originally scheduled.
The Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, stated on Thursday its readiness to govern Gaza following the conflict, a proposition that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently opposed. The PA is not anticipated to take part in the Saudi meeting scheduled for Friday.
Hamas has conveyed mixed signals regarding its future role in Gaza post-conflict. Over the weekend, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan asserted in an interview in Qatar that the group would independently determine who governs Gaza. However, this week, Hazem Qassem, a spokesperson for Hamas, indicated that the group is not “clinging to power.”
According to Egypt’s state-backed Al Qahera News, Egypt is in the process of establishing a temporary committee to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza.
In the meantime, Qatar has emphasized that the decision on governance should rest with the Palestinians themselves.
The UAE stands out as one of the few Arab nations willing to consider a role in postwar Gaza, contingent upon an invitation from a reformed Palestinian Authority and a commitment from Israel towards establishing a future Palestinian state. The UAE has rejected Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians.
However, Hamas has cautioned that it will regard anyone who replaces Israel in Gaza with the same hostility, urging regional countries not to act as “agents” for Israel.
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