The United States and Israel have dismissed a plan by Arab nations for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following the war. The Arab plan, which was under consideration at a Cairo summit, is aimed at allowing the 2.1 million residents of Gaza to remain in their homes and rebuild the territory.
The US and Israel, however, are interested in President Donald Trump’s suggestion of having the US take over Gaza and resettling its residents permanently elsewhere. The Arab plan has been embraced by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas. It proposes that Gaza be ruled by independent professionals and secured by international peacekeepers.
The White House and the Israeli foreign ministry, however, think that the plan does not represent the actual situation in Gaza. They remain committed to Trump’s vision for the region.
The Arab plan rejection is timely. A short-lived ceasefire in Gaza just collapsed, and there are fears that hostilities may resume. Israel has refused to allow aid into Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas to accept a new US offer to extend the ceasefire in return for the release of hostages. Hamas maintains that the ceasefire should result in the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Arab Leaders’ $53 Billion Plan for Gaza
The Arab leaders have come up with a $53 billion plan to reconstruct Gaza after the war. The plan, which was initiated by Egypt, firmly rejects the forced transfer of Palestinians. According to the plan, any attempt to relocate Palestinians from Gaza is a breach of international law and an act against humanity.
The reconstruction plan is broken into three stages and will take five years to complete.
1.Phase One (6 months, $3 billion)
Removing debris and clearing unexploded bombs.
2. Phase Two (2 years, $20 billions:
Reconstruction of houses, utilities, and infrastructure.
3. Phase Three (2 years, $30 billion):
Building an airport, two seaports, and an industrial complex.
The scheme also calls for a short-term administrative committee comprising independent Palestinian experts to administer Gaza. They would pave the way for the return of the Palestinian Authority in the area.
Hamas, which came into power in Gaza in 2007, welcomed the Arab plan. It also called upon Trump to drop his own offer. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was equally welcoming and invited Trump to re-examine his own scheme.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority will play no part in ruling Gaza in the future.
US and Israel Support Trump’s Vision
Israel and the US immediately rejected the Arab plan. Israel’s foreign ministry described the plan as ignoring the realities of the post-October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 individuals in Israel and resulted in the ongoing war.
The Israeli administration is in support of Trump’s proposal, which provides Palestinians the option to vacate Gaza once and for all and move to other nations. Israel feels this would provide Gazans with a “better future” and usher in permanent peace in the region.
The White House, too, rallied to Trump’s defense, adding that Gaza at present is unlivable, thanks to war destruction. America maintains that its rebuilding efforts have to be undertaken in such a manner that it ensures Hamas doesn’t take back power.
Trump has proposed that the US “own” Gaza and make it a developed area, like the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Trump thinks that it would be a good idea to resettle Palestinians in other nations such as Egypt and Jordan and give them better living standards. But this concept has been opposed by Arab nations and global institutions strongly.
The Future of Gaza Remains Uncertain
The Arab League’s Assistant Secretary General, Hossam Zaki, spoke out very hard against Trump’s suggestion. It is unacceptable to him because it entails the Palestinians’ forced exile, which contravenes international law. He also blamed Israel for employing war as a strategy to drive the Palestinians away from their homeland.
Palestinians are afraid that history will repeat itself. Many recall the Nakba (“catastrophe”) of 1948 when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their homes during the establishment of Israel. The majority of Gaza’s population today are the descendants of those refugees.
More than 48,400 Gazans have died since the conflict started in October 2023, as estimated by the health ministry, which is run by Hamas. Most of the population has been displaced several times with almost 70% of houses destroyed. There are now shortages of food, fuel, medicines, and housing in Gaza.
As the US and Israel rejected the Arab plan and demanded a different future for Gaza, matters remain complicated. The people of Gaza are still suffering, while their destiny is being debated by world leaders. Whether Gaza would be reconstructed under the Arab initiative or through Trump’s vision is unknown.
