Egypt has put forth a proposal as an alternative to former President Donald Trump's concept of annexing Gaza and relocating its residents.
The plan involves a substantial investment of $53 billion to clear debris and reconstruct Gaza in its current location, maintaining its proximity to Israel. This initiative aims to revitalize the region while preserving its existing population.
As reported by Breitbart, Egypt intends to unveil this plan at an upcoming Arab Summit in Cairo. The proposal, which stands in contrast to Trump's vision of a "Middle East Riviera," seeks to marginalize Hamas by establishing interim governing bodies managed by a coalition of Arab, Muslim, and Western nations.
The Egyptian plan, however, does not specify the source of the funding required for Gaza's reconstruction, which the United Nations estimates will exceed $53 billion. According to Reuters, two sources have indicated that Gulf and Arab states would need to contribute at least $20 billion during the initial phase.
The Egyptian proposal outlines the creation of a steering board that could potentially establish a fund to support the interim governing body. This board would also organize donor conferences to secure contributions for a long-term reconstruction and development strategy for Gaza. Ahram Online provides additional insights into the plan, detailing a phased approach to the reconstruction efforts.
The first phase, slated for 2025-2027, is budgeted at $20 billion and focuses on the complete removal of debris. The recovered materials would be repurposed for land reclamation in Gaza's coastal areas. This phase aims to construct essential infrastructure networks, develop 200,000 housing units, and repair 60,000 homes to accommodate 1.6 million residents.
The second phase, scheduled for 2027-2030 with a $30 billion budget, plans to expand infrastructure networks further and build an additional 200,000 housing units. This would increase the total to 460,000 units, providing housing for 2.75 million people.
Despite the ambitious nature of the plan, questions remain about Egypt's ability to clear debris across such a vast area within the proposed timeframe. Additionally, Israel has expressed opposition to the return of the Palestinian Authority to power in Gaza, citing its support for terrorism against Israelis.
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