Egypt is crafting a detailed, multi-phase reconstruction plan for Gaza, which aims to restore the region without displacing its Palestinian residents.

 

This initiative is a direct counter to US President Donald Trump's controversial proposal, which called for the depopulation of Gaza and its transformation into a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

 

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, confirmed to that the government's efforts to draft a comprehensive plan for Gaza’s early recovery and long-term reconstruction.

 

According to Al-Ahram news, Abdelatty emphasized that the plan ensures Palestinians can remain in their homeland without the threat of displacement. His comments came during a meeting with the UN's Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.

 

Egypt’s proposal, as reported by Al-Ahram newspaper, involves creating "secure areas" within Gaza where Palestinians can temporarily reside while construction firms from Egypt and abroad work to remove rubble and rebuild essential infrastructure.

 

The proposal is expected to be finalized by next week.

 

The plan unfolds over three phases and is expected to take up to five years to complete. Initial efforts will focus on urgent recovery and rehabilitation. The first phase of this plan is set to begin after the Arab summit, which was originally scheduled to start on February 27 in Cairo but has been postponed to March 4.

 

Ahead of that, officials from Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan will convene in Saudi Arabia this week to discuss the specifics of the proposed reconstruction.

 

The announcement comes in response to the widespread international backlash against Trump’s call for the US to take control of Gaza, displacing its 2 million Palestinian residents. Trump’s vision, which suggests that Gaza be turned into a luxurious region for tourism and investment, has been widely criticized as an attempt to erase the Palestinian population from the territory. France’s President Emmanuel Macron has also condemned the plan, as have human rights groups, who argue it constitutes ethnic cleansing—a potential war crime.

 

Al-Ahram notes that Egypt’s plan is specifically designed to counter Trump’s logic and to protect the geographic and demographic integrity of Gaza. Egypt and Jordan have both rejected Trump’s request to take in Gaza’s displaced residents, and have instead called for a solution that respects the rights of Palestinians.

 

While "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for Trump’s proposal, stating that he is committed to the creation of a "different Gaza," the plan faces significant resistance. "Israeli" Defence Minister Israel Katz also announced plans for a special directorate focused on the "voluntary departure" of Palestinians from Gaza.

 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in Saudi Arabia this week, reiterated America’s support for Trump’s vision. However, he also stated that the US is open to hearing alternative proposals, remarking, "If the Arab countries have a better plan, then that’s great."