European leaders have expressed support for an Arab-backed plan to rebuild Gaza. The plan, estimated at $53 billion (£41 billion), aims to avoid displacing Palestinians.
Egypt developed the plan, which other Arab leaders strongly endorse. However, Israel and US President Donald Trump have rejected it, offering a different vision to transform Gaza into a “Middle East Riviera.”
Details of the plan
On Saturday, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and the UK called the plan “realistic.” They pointed out that it would bring quick and lasting improvements to Gaza’s living conditions. In particular, the plan proposes a temporary governance committee of independent experts, who would oversee Gaza’s affairs.
International peacekeepers would also be deployed. The Palestinian Authority would supervise the committee, ensuring a collaborative approach. This proposal provides an alternative to Trump’s plan, which includes resettling Gaza’s population.
Reactions to the plan
The Palestinian Authority and Hamas both welcomed the plan, which Egypt presented at an Arab League summit on Tuesday. However, Israel and the White House criticised it, claiming it fails to address the region’s real situation. For example, Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the US National Security Council, stated that Gaza is full of debris and unexploded ordnance. He reiterated Trump’s position that Gaza should be rebuilt without Hamas.
Nevertheless, the European ministers reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Arab initiative. They also praised the Arab states’ efforts in developing the plan. Furthermore, they stressed that Hamas should no longer govern Gaza or pose a threat to Israel. They made it clear that the Palestinian Authority must take a central role in future reforms.
Concerns over Gaza’s ceasefire
The proposal comes amid growing concerns over Gaza’s fragile ceasefire, which could collapse at any moment. The first phase of the ceasefire ended on 1 March, and both sides are uneasy about its future.
In response, Israel has blocked aid to Gaza to pressure Hamas into agreeing to a US proposal for a truce extension. If accepted, this would allow more hostages to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas insists that the second phase of the truce must proceed as originally planned, leading to a full Israeli withdrawal.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to take a devastating toll on Gaza. Since the fighting began, nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced. Israel launched military operations after Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. As a result, Gaza has faced massive destruction. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 48,000 Palestinians have died, and much of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed.
