(The Post News)– Arab officials have taken a significant stride toward the reconstruction of the destroyed Gaza Strip. The officials endorsed an Egyptian plan to restore the territory, preventing 2.3 million Palestinians from being driven out of Gaza. This latest development was announced by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Tuesday following a Cairo summit where the plan won sweeping endorsement from a coalition of Arab states.
The summit, which had in attendance major regional players such as the Emir of Qatar, the UAE Vice President, and Saudi Foreign Minister, among others, including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, saw the Arab leaders endorsing Egypt’s substitute proposal to a controversial plan advanced by former US President Donald Trump. The Trump administration had proposed the relocation of Gaza’s residents and developing the land.
Egypt’s initiative is a two-phased plan to rebuild Gaza. The first phase addresses the short-term humanitarian needs, including de-mining and temporary housing for citizens who have been displaced. The second phase involves long-term reconstruction of Gaza, including restoring critical infrastructure.
However, the reconstruction is faced with many challenges. Most pressing questions surround Gaza’s governance and the financing of the multi-billion-dollar reconstruction. El-Sisi revealed that Egypt had collaborated closely with Palestinians to form an administrative committee of neutral Palestinian technocrats who will temporarily run Gaza’s affairs. The committee will be responsible for distributing humanitarian assistance and the rule of the land until the Palestinian Authority (PA) can reclaim power in its entirety.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who has presided over the PA since 2005, welcomed Egypt’s initiative, which he said secures the protection of Palestinian citizens and does not result in people being displaced. Abbas also expressed that he was ready to hold elections if conditions allowed, arguing that his PA remains the only legitimate governing force in Palestinian territory.
Although Abbas welcomed the Egyptian proposal, Hamas, the militant organisation that governs Gaza, rejected any foreign-imposed solution. In a statement, Hamas called for a decisive Arab intervention to put an end to the humanitarian crisis and foil Israeli plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza. Hamas reaffirmed its rejection of any solution that would not be in the interests of the Palestinian people.
Huge financial aid from wealthy Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE will be needed for the plan to succeed. These nations are likely to provide the finances required to finance the rebuilding process.
The session comes after a breakdown in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Israel announced that it would halt the importation of humanitarian supplies and merchandise into Gaza once the initial phase of the ceasefire lapsed. While there is a ceasefire, both sides remain at an impasse regarding the terms of a long-term ceasefire.
Half of the remaining prisoners held by Hamas are required under the new Israeli plan to be released as a condition for extending the truce. However, the proposal failed to secure trust from Hamas, which blames Israel for seeking to undermine the prevailing agreement.
While regionally influential leaders rally support for Egypt’s reconstruction initiative, the path towards recovery and peace in Gaza remains shrouded in question marks. The challenge of charting Gaza’s complex politics, securing funding, and ensuring longer-term stability will be pivotal to determining if the planned reconstruction will indeed flourish or fail.
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