Egypt is set to propose a plan to rebuild Gaza after 16 months of devastating war. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that the plan is a practical solution that does not require the displacement of Gazans.
His remarks followed a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, just days before an Arab League summit in Cairo, where the proposal will be formally presented.
The Israeli military campaign has left Gaza in ruins, prompting regional leaders to push for reconstruction efforts that prioritize stability and sovereignty.
“The only guarantee to break the cycle of violence and assaults is for a political horizon to be present and to give hope to the Palestinian people that their legitimate aspirations can be achieved — in establishing an independent state on all of their national soil.”
Badr Abdelatty
Egypt’s strategy, structured into three phases over five years, aims to restore Gaza’s infrastructure without forcing its 2.3 million residents to relocate. Abdelatty emphasized that the plan is “completely doable and achievable without the need to displace any citizens from their land.”
Egypt’s reconstruction initiative comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to remove Gaza’s population entirely and redevelop the enclave as a real estate project.
Trump suggested turning Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East” under U.S. control, permanently barring Palestinians from returning. The proposal has been widely condemned by Arab nations, which view it as an attack on Palestinian sovereignty.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mustafa welcomed Egypt’s plan, describing it as a step toward the establishment of a unified Palestinian state encompassing both Gaza and the West Bank. “We will work on uniting the organizations, whether services, administrative, or security, in order to form one state with one system, one law, and also one weapon,” he affirmed.
The Cairo summit, scheduled for March 4, is expected to bring together Arab leaders to endorse the Egyptian proposal. Mustafa expressed hope that regional support would advance efforts to unify governance in Palestinian territories and accelerate Gaza’s recovery.
A Practical Approach to Gaza’s Reconstruction
Egypt’s plan prioritizes stability by creating three designated “secure areas” within Gaza, where residents will be temporarily housed during the initial six-month recovery phase. These areas will feature mobile housing and humanitarian aid stations while international and Egyptian firms clear rubble and begin rebuilding key infrastructure. The strategy aims to generate employment opportunities for Gazans, reducing economic hardship while promoting long-term sustainability.
The plan also proposes an independent Palestinian administration — separate from Hamas and the Palestinian Authority — to oversee recovery efforts. This entity would be supported by a restructured security force composed of former Palestinian Authority officers and Egyptian-trained personnel. Funding mechanisms, including an international donor conference, remain under discussion.
Trump’s suggestion that Egypt and Jordan absorb Gaza’s population has been met with fierce opposition. Both nations have repeatedly rejected the idea, viewing it as a violation of Palestinian rights and a form of ethnic cleansing.
The historical context adds weight to their resistance: the 1948 Nakba (“catastrophe”) saw 700,000 Palestinians displaced during Israel’s creation, while the 1967 war forced an additional 300,000 from the West Bank and Gaza. Egypt and Jordan already host millions of Palestinian refugees and fear that further displacement could destabilize their territories permanently.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has warned that any mass exodus from Gaza could introduce militants into the Sinai Peninsula, jeopardizing Egypt’s 40-year peace treaty with Israel. Jordan’s King Abdullah II has similarly reaffirmed his nation’s stance, stating, “Jordan is for Jordanians,” in a reflection of broader Arab sentiment that Gaza’s future must be determined within its own borders.
As Arab League leaders prepare to convene, Egypt’s proposal is expected to gain strong backing as the most viable solution for Gaza’s future. By prioritizing Palestinian sovereignty over forced displacement, the plan signals a unified regional stance against external demographic engineering.
