Arab leaders convened in Saudi Arabia on Friday to formulate a recovery plan for Gaza, aiming to counter former US President Donald Trump's controversial proposal for American control of the territory and the displacement of its population.
Trump's plan, which suggested the United States take over Gaza and relocate its 2.4 million residents to Egypt and Jordan, has been widely condemned, uniting Arab states in opposition. However, differences remain regarding Gaza's future governance and the financial aspects of its reconstruction.
Umer Karim, an expert on Saudi foreign policy, described the summit as one of the most significant in decades for both the Arab world and the Palestinian cause.
A source close to the Saudi government told AFP that Arab leaders would discuss "a reconstruction plan to counter Trump's plan for Gaza." The territory has been left devastated by over a year of war between Israel and Hamas, with the United Nations estimating that rebuilding efforts could exceed $53 billion.
During a meeting with Trump in Washington on February 11, Jordan’s King Abdullah II stated that Egypt would present a plan for moving forward. The Saudi source indicated that discussions at the summit would revolve around a version of this Egyptian proposal.
According to the official Saudi Press Agency, the Riyadh summit included representatives from Egypt, Jordan, and the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. The agency also confirmed that decisions from this informal gathering would be included in the agenda of an emergency Arab League summit scheduled for March 4 in Egypt.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, and sources previously told AFP that the Palestinian Authority would also participate in the talks.
Three-Phase Reconstruction Plan
The reconstruction of Gaza is a central issue, with Trump previously citing rebuilding efforts as a justification for the mass relocation of its population.
Although Egypt has yet to officially announce its initiative, former Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Hegazy described a three-phase recovery plan spanning three to five years.
- Early Recovery (First Six Months) – This phase would focus on clearing debris and addressing immediate humanitarian needs.
- Reconstruction Planning – An international conference would be convened to outline detailed reconstruction plans, emphasizing the restoration of critical infrastructure.
- Long-Term Development – The final phase would focus on urban planning, rebuilding homes, restoring services, and establishing a political framework to implement a two-state solution.
- A Gulf-based Arab diplomat acknowledged that financing remains the biggest challenge for Egypt's proposed plan.
Additionally, the initiative seeks to resolve the issue of Gaza's post-war governance. Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007, but the proposal envisions an administration consisting of neutral Palestinian experts, politically and legally aligned with the Palestinian Authority.
Hegazy suggested that Hamas would gradually withdraw from the political landscape soon.
