Saudi Arabia is leading urgent Arab initiatives to formulate a strategy for Gaza‘s future, countering U.S. President Donald Trump‘s vision of a Middle East devoid of its Palestinian population, according to sources.
Draft proposals are set to be reviewed at a meeting in Riyadh this month, which will include representatives from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. These proposals may feature a Gulf-led reconstruction fund and a strategy to marginalize Hamas, as indicated by five of the sources.
The reaction from Saudi Arabia and its Arab partners was one of shock at Trump’s plan to “remove” Palestinians from Gaza and relocate many to Jordan and Egypt, a suggestion that was promptly dismissed by both Cairo and Amman and regarded as highly destabilizing across the region.
Sources noted that Saudi Arabia’s frustration was heightened because the plan undermines the kingdom’s insistence on a definitive pathway to Palestinian statehood as a prerequisite for normalizing relations with Israel. This normalization is also seen as a potential precursor to a significant military agreement between Riyadh and Washington, aimed at bolstering the kingdom’s defenses against Iran.
Reuters consulted 15 sources from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and other locations to illustrate the swift actions being taken by Arab nations to consolidate existing proposals into a new plan that could be presented to the U.S. president, possibly branding it as a “Trump plan” to gain his endorsement. All sources requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic and their lack of authorization to speak publicly.
An Arab government source indicated that at least four proposals for Gaza’s future have been drafted, with an Egyptian initiative now emerging as a focal point in the Arab effort to present an alternative to Trump’s plan.
THE EGYPTIAN INITIATIVE
The most recent Egyptian initiative proposes the establishment of a national Palestinian committee to oversee Gaza’s governance, excluding Hamas, facilitating international involvement in reconstruction efforts without displacing Palestinians, and advancing towards a two-state solution, according to three Egyptian security officials.
Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and the Palestinian territories will convene in Riyadh to review and discuss the proposal prior to its presentation at the upcoming Arab summit scheduled for February 27, as noted by the Arab government source.
The involvement of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, commonly referred to as MbS, is expected to be pivotal. A Jordanian official remarked, “We are informing the Americans that we have a viable plan. Our meeting with MbS will be crucial, as he is taking the lead.” The crown prince has maintained a positive rapport with the previous Trump administration and is becoming increasingly significant in shaping Arab relations with the United States in the current Trump era.
Historically a key regional ally for the United States, the crown prince is enhancing Saudi Arabia’s global influence through business initiatives and geopolitical strategies. This month, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is hosting a conference in Miami, where Trump is anticipated to be present. Additionally, Riyadh is expected to facilitate his upcoming discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the upcoming Arab meeting on Thursday, stating, “Currently, the only available plan—despite its unpopularity—is the Trump plan. If there is a more viable alternative, now is the time to share it.”
Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Israel did not respond promptly to requests for comments from Reuters.
BUFFER ZONE
Establishing clear plans for Gaza’s post-conflict future has proven challenging, as it necessitates addressing contentious issues related to the territory’s governance, security, funding, and reconstruction. Israel has dismissed any involvement of Hamas or the Palestinian Authority in governing or securing Gaza. Additionally, both Arab nations and the United States have expressed reluctance to deploy troops for this purpose.
Gulf states, which have traditionally financed reconstruction efforts in Gaza, have indicated they will not do so this time without assurances that Israel will not again dismantle their investments.
During a meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday, Jordan’s King Abdullah highlighted his collaboration with Saudi Arabia and Egypt on a workable Gaza plan, according to a Jordanian official. Following the meeting, Abdullah stated in televised remarks that the nations would evaluate an Egyptian proposal and “we will convene in Saudi Arabia to discuss how we can collaborate with the president and the United States.”
Following Abdullah’s discussion with Trump, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi remarked, “We are currently focused on finalizing the Arab plan.”
Initial proposals from three Egyptian security sources regarding reconstruction and funding appear to be well-developed. A buffer zone and a physical barrier are set to be constructed to prevent the establishment of tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border. Once the debris is cleared, 20 designated areas will be created as temporary living spaces. Approximately 50 Egyptian and other international companies are expected to be involved in the execution of these plans.
Funding is anticipated to come from international and Gulf sources, according to a regional insider. An emerging idea is to establish a fund potentially named the Trump Fund for Reconstruction, as mentioned by the Arab government official.
Nevertheless, significant challenges concerning Gaza’s governance and internal security still need to be addressed, the official noted. The removal of Hamas from any governing role in Gaza is deemed essential, according to the Arab official and the three Egyptian sources.
Hamas has previously indicated its willingness to relinquish control in Gaza to a national committee, but it insists on having a say in the selection of its members and will not agree to the presence of any ground forces without its approval.
Three Egyptian sources indicated that although the proposal was not particularly innovative, they felt it had the potential to persuade Trump and could be enforced upon Hamas and the Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas.
SAUDI DISCONTENT
Saudi frustration regarding Gaza had been escalating prior to Trump’s announcement. The kingdom had consistently maintained that normalization with Israel was contingent upon establishing a Palestinian state in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. This position became more rigid as public outrage in Saudi Arabia intensified over the devastation and loss of life in Gaza. In November, the crown prince publicly accused Israel of committing genocide during an Islamic summit and reiterated the necessity for a two-state solution. According to two regional intelligence sources, frustration within the kingdom regarding the ongoing conflict was palpable.
Washington seemed poised to overlook Riyadh’s insistence on a two-state solution. The day before his announcement concerning Gaza, Trump was questioned about the possibility of a normalization agreement proceeding without a two-state resolution. He responded, “Saudi Arabia is going to be very helpful.” Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, had conducted meetings in Riyadh in late January, where he presented a three-month timeline for the normalization process. However, Saudi frustration quickly shifted to surprise and then anger following Trump’s Gaza proposal. “He is not pleased,” remarked a source close to the Saudi royal court regarding Prince Mohammed’s response.
The intensity of anger was swiftly apparent in state media broadcasts, which analysts suggest often reflect official Saudi perspectives. Television news segments directly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“They are furious,” remarked Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi analyst well-versed in official sentiments, characterizing the atmosphere among senior Saudi officials. “This is unacceptable. Beyond mere frustration, this reaches an entirely different level.”
Many analysts believe that Trump might be employing a familiar negotiation tactic, presenting an extreme stance as a starting point for discussions. Throughout his first term, he frequently made what were perceived as exaggerated foreign policy statements, many of which did not materialize.
Nevertheless, this has complicated the normalization discussions.
Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal, who currently holds no official position, stated in a CNN interview last week that if Trump were to visit Riyadh, “I’m certain he would receive a strong message from the leadership here.” When asked about the potential for advancing normalization talks with Israel, he responded, “Not at all.”
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