Synopsis
Arab leaders have approved an Egyptian reconstruction plan for Gaza costing $53 billion, aimed at preventing the displacement of Palestinians. The plan includes establishing a seaport and airport, and the formation of a technocratic committee to oversee the initiative under the Palestinian Authority.Key Takeaways
- Arab leaders have approved a $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza.
- The initiative aims to prevent the displacement of Palestinians.
- A non-partisan committee will oversee Gaza for at least six months.
- The plan includes building a seaport and airport in Gaza.
- Arab leaders committed to providing financial and political support.
Cairo/Gaza, March 5 (NationPress) Arab leaders have sanctioned an Egyptian reconstruction initiative for Gaza, projected to require $53 billion and designed to prevent the displacement of Palestinians from the enclave.
This initiative received unanimous approval at the conclusion of an emergency Arab summit in Cairo on Tuesday, as reported by Xinhua.
The summit also resolved to create a non-partisan technocratic committee to govern Gaza for a minimum of six months under the Palestinian Authority’s supervision.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced post-summit that Egypt will actively promote this reconstruction initiative on an international level.
The plan encompasses the construction of a seaport and an airport within the Gaza Strip, alongside the recycling of debris resulting from the destruction.
The final statement from the summit indicates that Arab leaders cautioned against any attempts to displace the Palestinian populace or annex sections of the occupied Palestinian territory, asserting that such actions would plunge the region into a new conflict phase and jeopardize stability, potentially extending the conflict to neighboring countries.
Arab leaders committed to providing comprehensive financial, material, and political backing for the reconstruction initiative, urging the international community and funding institutions to promptly extend necessary resources.
They also underscored the urgency of executing the second and third phases of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, emphasizing each party's responsibility, particularly Israel's, to ensure a lasting halt to aggression against Gaza.
Demands were made for Israel to fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphi Corridor linking Gaza and Egypt, ensuring unobstructed access to humanitarian, shelter, and medical aid.
The Arab leaders pledged to establish a trust fund to collect financial commitments from donor nations and financial institutions to facilitate recovery and reconstruction efforts.
This initiative stands in contrast to a prior proposal by former US President Donald Trump, which advocated for redeveloping Gaza and relocating its residents to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan.
Oren Marmorstein, spokesperson for Israel's Foreign Ministry, dismissed the plan on X, reaffirming Israel's endorsement of Trump's proposal.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed the UN's willingness to support the Egypt-led initiative, emphasizing that Gaza must remain part of the State of Palestine.
Characterizing the situation in Gaza as horrific, Guterres called for the facilitation of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
Hamas welcomed the summit's conclusions, asserting that they signify substantial political backing for the Palestinian cause, especially amid the rising tide of Israeli aggression.
In a statement, Hamas commended the Arab leaders' positions during the summit, particularly their refusal to endorse the displacement of Palestinians or undermine their cause.
Hamas reiterated that the united Arab stance sends a clear signal that the Palestinian “Nakba”, which refers to the mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, will not be repeated.
The group also applauded the summit's approval of the Gaza reconstruction initiative, advocating for all necessary resources to ensure its success.
