Arab states led by Egypt have accepted a roadmap to rebuild Gaza as the “comprehensive Arab plan,” countering President Donald Trump’s proposal to redevelop the strip, transform Gaza into what he calls the “Riviera of the Middle East,” and displace Palestinians.
The White House has effectively rejected the Arab plan, saying “the current proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance,” National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement, standing by Donald Trump’s controversial proposal.
The Arab plan, seen by CNBC, says $53 billion is needed for reconstruction of the besieged strip, a number released last month by a joint UN-EU-World Bank report. The nearly 100-page plan, dubbed “Gaza 2030” included Egypt’s presidential logo and was reviewed by Arab states on Tuesday at an emergency summit in Cairo. It aims to sideline Hamas and proposes eventual Palestinian Authority control in the besieged strip.
Arab states, in the summit’s final communique urged the international community and “international and regional financing institutions to quickly provide the necessary support for the plan.” The proposal does not indicate who will foot the bill specifically but could see European contribution as well as wealthier Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
