- Arab leaders endorse Egypt's 15-year reconstruction plan retaining Gaza’s Palestinian population
- Proposal recycles 50M tons of war debris for coastal land expansion
- EU pledges funding while rejecting demographic changes to the territory
Egypt’s ambitious postwar strategy for Gaza, unveiled at Tuesday’s Cairo summit, directly counters former U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial calls for depopulating the coastal enclave. The 112-page plan obtained by The Associated Press outlines a phased approach beginning with explosive ordnance removal and temporary housing for displaced families – a critical measure given that 90% of Gaza’s population fled homes during recent conflicts. Unlike Trump’s vision for luxury resorts, the Egyptian framework emphasizes sustainable urban development powered by renewable energy sources.
The proposal’s first phase addresses immediate humanitarian needs through rubble recycling initiatives that could create 22 square kilometers of new coastal land. Construction experts note this approach mirrors techniques used in Dubai’s Palm Islands project, though adapted for post-conflict challenges. A regional case study from Lebanon’s postwar reconstruction shows such debris management can reduce costs by up to 40% while accelerating timelines.
Political dimensions remain contentious, with Israel rejecting any Palestinian Authority role in Gaza’s governance. The plan’s call for Hamas to transfer power to interim administrators faces hurdles given Israel’s demand for complete disarmament. However, European Commission President Antonio Costa confirmed the EU’s readiness to fund demilitarization programs similar to Colombia’s successful FARC reintegration model.
Infrastructure targets include completing an international airport by 2028 – a project stalled since the 1990s Oslo Accords. Maritime development features twin commercial and fishing ports designed to boost economic output by 300% within a decade. Energy analysts highlight Gaza’s offshore natural gas reserves as potential funding sources, though extraction would require unprecedented Israeli-Palestinian cooperation.
Humanitarian organizations warn that delayed aid shipments continue exacerbating health crises, with amputations increasing 17% monthly since January. Jordan’s medical evacuation program for wounded children, while limited, sets precedent for regional burden-sharing models. The summit’s final declaration notably omitted earlier references to UN peacekeepers, reflecting political sensitivities about sovereignty.
