Arab League member states adopted a unified $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza at an emergency summit in Cairo on Tuesday, presenting a direct counterproposal to US President Donald Trump's vision for the territory — which Arab governments had broadly rejected as tantamount to ethnic cleansing.
The extraordinary summit, convened by Egypt and held at the country's new administrative capital, brought together representatives from across the Arab world. The summit's final statement stipulated the adoption of the plan submitted by Egypt — developed in coordination with the Palestinian Authority and based on studies conducted by the World Bank and the UN Development Fund — as a comprehensive Arab plan for early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza. Anadolu Ajansı
The 112-page proposal, spearheaded by Egypt and endorsed by Arab states, entails a reconstruction plan costing $53 billion and ensures Gaza's population remains in the territory. Institute for Palestine Studies The plan targets completion of rebuilding by 2030.
One of the key elements of the Arab plan is an initial phase lasting six months, followed by a two-year period. The third phase — the second reconstruction phase — is estimated to last two and a half years. Anadolu Ajansı
On governance, the plan includes the formation of a Gaza administration committee to run the enclave for a six-month transitional period. This committee would be independent and composed of non-partisan technocrats operating under the umbrella of the Palestinian government. Anadolu Ajansı Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa stressed at the summit that Gaza is an integral part of the State of Palestine and emphasised the importance of maintaining unity between Gaza and the West Bank.
The reconstruction plan includes rebuilding infrastructure, developing roads and neighbourhoods, and constructing a fishing and commercial port, as well as an airport — Gaza's only airport having been destroyed by Israel in 2001. Institute for Palestine Studies
UN Secretary-General António Guterres joined Arab leaders in Cairo for the summit discussions. J Street The summit also affirmed the rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from their land under any pretext or circumstances, and assigned an Arab legal committee to study the classification of Palestinian displacement as part of the crime of genocide. Anadolu Ajansı
However, the summit was not without complications. Behind closed doors, senior Arab officials expressed concern over the lack of attendance by leaders of key countries in the region. Algeria's leader pulled out of the summit entirely, reportedly deeply troubled after Gulf Cooperation Council members had met separately with Jordan's king. euronews Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and UAE's Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan were also not among those present in Cairo. euronews
Arab hopes were quickly tested just hours after the conclusion of the summit. The Trump administration and the Netanyahu government rejected the Arab Gaza reconstruction plan even before their experts reviewed its contents in detail. US National Security Spokesman Brian Hughes declared that the plan "does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable." Arab Center DC
As of the close of the summit on March 4, Arab states had formally committed to a unified reconstruction framework that kept Palestinians in Gaza, established a technocratic transitional administration, and outlined phased rebuilding over five years. Whether the plan could move forward depended on engagement from the United States and Israel — both of which had signalled rejection within hours of the proposal's adoption.
Mohsin Rana
