Egypt has revealed a proposal for rebuilding the Gaza Strip over the next three to five years, although it doesn't appear to involve collaboration with the Trump administration or Israel. According to i24 News, Egyptian sources informed Qatari Al Araby TV that this plan aims to counter President Trump's recent suggestion that the U.S. might "take over" Gaza and relocate its Palestinian residents. The Egyptian initiative reportedly envisions cooperation with Arab nations, the European Union, and the United Nations.
While EU sources acknowledged awareness of a plan to be unveiled at an upcoming summit with Arab states, they were unaware of any EU or UN involvement in the reconstruction efforts. The Egyptian proposal reportedly outlines a two-phase approach, starting with debris removal and residential construction.
This announcement follows shortly after the Egyptian foreign ministry expressed its "aspirations" to "cooperate" with President Trump and the U.S., while simultaneously condemning Trump's Gaza takeover proposal. The ministry emphasized that achieving regional peace hinges on resolving the "root cause of conflict" by ending "Israel's occupation" and implementing a two-state solution, a stance that diverges significantly from Trump's stated intentions.
During a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah, President Trump reiterated his Gaza takeover plans, stating, "We're going to take it. We're going to hold it. We're going to cherish it." Despite opposition from both Jordan and Egypt, Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that Trump's comments have spurred them into action. King Abdullah announced Jordan's willingness to accept up to 2,000 children from Gaza requiring medical care, a commitment neither Jordan nor Egypt had made previously.
Trump has envisioned transforming Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East," even suggesting it could become a "diamond." King Abdullah, however, refrained from directly addressing his stance on the U.S. takeover, emphasizing the importance of finding a solution beneficial to all parties involved, including the U.S., the region's inhabitants, and Jordanians specifically. He suggested waiting for Egypt to present its plan to President Trump before drawing conclusions.
Later, King Abdullah reiterated Jordan's opposition to Palestinian displacement in Gaza and the West Bank on social media, highlighting this as the unified Arab stance. He stressed the priority of rebuilding Gaza without displacement and addressing the humanitarian crisis, echoing Egypt's call for a two-state solution as the path to regional stability.
