Leading European nations have expressed their support for an Arab-backed proposal to reconstruct Gaza, a plan estimated to cost $53 billion (£41 billion) and aimed at avoiding the displacement of Palestinians from the war-torn territory.
The initiative, spearheaded by Egypt and endorsed by Arab leaders, has faced rejection from Israel and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has put forward an alternative vision to transform Gaza into a “Middle East Riviera.”
On Saturday, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and Britain welcomed the Arab proposal, describing it as a “realistic” plan to facilitate the region’s recovery. In a joint statement, they emphasized that the initiative promises “swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions” faced by Gaza’s residents.
The proposed plan outlines the establishment of a temporary governing committee comprised of independent experts, tasked with overseeing humanitarian aid and managing Gaza’s administration under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority. Additionally, international peacekeepers would be deployed to the territory to maintain stability.
The proposal comes amid increasing concerns over the fragile ceasefire, whose initial six-week phase expired on March 1. Israel has restricted aid deliveries into Gaza in an attempt to pressure Hamas into accepting a new U.S.-backed truce extension, under which additional hostages held in Gaza would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas has maintained that the ceasefire’s second phase, which entails a full withdrawal of Israeli troops, must proceed as previously agreed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that a negotiating team would travel to Qatar on Monday for discussions on extending the ceasefire. While the timeline for implementing the next phase remains uncertain, Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanoua has indicated “positive indicators” ahead of the upcoming talks.
The Arab-backed initiative stands as a counterproposal to Trump’s plan, which envisions U.S. oversight of Gaza and the resettlement of its population. Egypt formally presented the plan at an emergency Arab League summit on Tuesday, garnering support from both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. However, the White House and the Israeli foreign ministry have dismissed the proposal, arguing that it does not adequately address the realities on the ground.
Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump’s National Security Council, reiterated the administration’s stance, stating, “Residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance. President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas.”
The European ministers’ statement affirmed their commitment to collaborating with Arab nations on the initiative and acknowledged the “important signal” sent by Arab states in formulating the plan. They emphasized that Hamas “must neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel any more,” and underscored their support for the Palestinian Authority’s central role in governance and reform.
Since the onset of hostilities, nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced. Israel’s military operations followed Hamas’s attack in October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties and 251 hostages. The subsequent conflict has led to the extensive destruction of Gaza, with a devastating humanitarian toll. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, and much of the territory’s infrastructure has been decimated by airstrikes.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the viability of the Arab-backed reconstruction plan remains in question amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and competing visions for Gaza’s future.
Source:BBC News
