Arab League meets in Cairo to discuss alternative Gaza plan

Arab leaders will convene in Cairo today to discuss an alternative plan to Trump’s Gaza proposal.

Arab League members will gather in Cairo to counter US President Donald Trump’s threats to seize Gaza and displace Palestinians, and to oppose Israel’s desire to restart its genocidal war against Gaza.

The summit, convened at the request of Egypt, will discuss an alternative Gaza plan focused on rebuilding Gaza without displacing its residents.

On February 5, Trump proposed seizing Gaza, relocating Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, and transforming the area into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Egypt rejected this proposal, calling for a “comprehensive vision for the reconstruction of Gaza” and announced it would host an Arab summit to discuss this vision. On February 21, Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries met in Riyadh to prepare the agenda for the Cairo summit.

Providing details about the plan to Al Jazeera, former Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Hegazy said the plan would cover a period of three to five years and be divided into three technical phases: 1- early recovery; 2- reconstruction of public services infrastructure; and 3- reconstruction of housing, provision of services, and creation of “a political path for the implementation of the two-state solution.”

Experts note that the challenge in Egypt’s plan lies in financing, with the United Nations recently stating that more than $50 billion would be needed for Gaza’s reconstruction.

This issue will also be addressed at the summit. Many believe that the GCC countries will play a leading role in financing the reconstruction, but there is no clarity on how much can be raised.

Former Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Hegazy stated that a three-to-five-year plan for Gaza’s reconstruction would be proposed. This plan will include early recovery, infrastructure reconstruction, and housing projects. However, there are serious challenges regarding the plan’s financing, and the United Nations indicates that $50 billion is needed for Gaza’s reconstruction.

After Arab countries determine their positions on Gaza’s reconstruction, financial and logistical details will be discussed.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), although Arab states are united against Trump’s Gaza proposal, they disagree on the role Hamas will play in Gaza’s governance.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar support the Egyptian plan, which envisions Hamas disarming but playing a role in Gaza’s governance alongside other Palestinian groups. The United Arab Emirates, however, wants Hamas to be completely removed from Gaza. There is also disagreement on whether Arab states should send troops to ensure the region’s security.

It is not certain whether Arab leaders will be able to reach a consensus today on these points, which they failed to agree on at the summit held in Riyadh on February 21.

Moreover, with the ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement in Gaza hanging by a thread, Arab leaders may be forced to put the reconstruction plan on the back burner.