European Leaders Support $53 Billion Arab Plan for Gaza Reconstruction
Leading European nations have voiced support for an Arab-backed initiative to rebuild Gaza, a plan estimated to cost $53 billion (£41 billion) and aimed at preventing the displacement of Palestinians from the region.
The proposal, developed by Egypt and endorsed by Arab leaders, has been dismissed by Israel and former U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously outlined his own vision to transform Gaza into a "Middle East Riviera."
On Saturday, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and Britain welcomed the Arab-led initiative, describing it as a "realistic" path forward. In a joint statement, they emphasized that the plan offered a "swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions" for Gaza’s population.
Under the proposal, Gaza would be governed temporarily by an independent committee of experts, with international peacekeepers deployed to the territory. The committee would oversee humanitarian aid and manage Gaza’s administration under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority.
The plan comes as concerns grow over the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, with the initial six-week phase expiring on March 1. Israel has restricted aid entry to pressure Hamas into accepting a U.S.-backed proposal for extending the ceasefire, which includes the release of more hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas maintains that the next phase of the agreement—requiring a full Israeli military withdrawal—must proceed as originally outlined.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that a delegation will travel to Qatar on Monday for ceasefire negotiations, but it remains uncertain whether the second phase of the agreement will move forward. A Hamas spokesperson, Abdel Latif al-Qanoua, suggested there were "positive indicators" for upcoming discussions.
The Arab-backed reconstruction plan presents an alternative to Trump’s controversial proposal, which would see U.S. involvement in Gaza’s governance and potential resettlement of its population. Egypt introduced the plan at an emergency Arab League summit, where it was welcomed by both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.
Despite this, both the White House and Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed the proposal, arguing it does not adequately address the realities on the ground. Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump’s National Security Council, stated that “residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance.” He reaffirmed Trump’s stance on rebuilding Gaza while ensuring it remains free from Hamas control.
The European ministers’ statement emphasized the need for Palestinian Authority leadership in Gaza’s future, declaring that Hamas “must neither govern Gaza nor pose a threat to Israel.” They also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Palestinian Authority reforms.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, with nearly all of the region’s 2.3 million residents displaced since the conflict began. The war erupted after Hamas launched an attack on Israel in October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel’s military operations have devastated the enclave, with more than 48,000 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. Airstrikes have obliterated much of the strip’s infrastructure, exacerbating the humanitarian disaster.
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