Summit for the future of Gazas: Egypt places plan for reconstruction of the Gaza Strip

Where there are mountains of rubble today, a chic area on the Mediterranean is to be created in just a few years: According to the controversial proposals by US President Donald Trump on the future of the Gaza Strip, Egypt has developed its own plan for the reconstruction of the area destroyed in large parts. The approximately 90-page plan, which is available to the German Press Agency, describes a reconstruction over five years with estimated costs of the equivalent of around 50 billion euros.

State and government heads from more than 20 countries gathered in Cairo to discuss the plan. By 2030, hundreds of thousands of new apartments for three million residents as well as a flight and a seaport are to be built in Gaza. There should also be industrial areas, but also hotel complexes, parks and beaches to promote tourism.

Because of many open questions, it is completely unclear whether and when these plans could become a reality. In a first phase you provide for the removal of ruins, the accommodation of Palestinians in residential containers and then a gradual expansion of streets and other infrastructure.

Technocrat body for provisional Gazas control

The paper mentions a Palestinian body of technocrats, which should take control of Gazas during a six -month transition phase. This should be done under the “patronage” of the Palestinian government before President Mahmud Abbas’s more moderate Palestinian Authority (PA) takes control.

Abbas’s Fatah rejects a rule with the rival Hamas in Gaza. Instead, Abbas strives for a direct takeover of control by the PA. Hamas apparently does not want to give up power and do not want to lay down the weapons. Israel strictly rejects Hamas’ participation in the government after the end of the war, but also the takeover of control by the PA.

The reconciliation of the rival Palestinian factions remains one of the hurdles, said Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa.

A plan as attributed to Trump

Trump, who had caused outrage with his statements about the future of the Gaza Strip as a “Riviera of the Middle East”, could create peace in the region, said Egypt President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi at the start of the summit.

The plan, which was initially not published, also recommends direct discussions between Israelis and Palestinians and the renewed demand for a two -state solution. In view of the war between Israel and Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip, such conversations currently seem to be in fact.

The paper seems to be attributed to the businessman and real estate entrepreneur Trump: It contains a development plan with maps, approaches to the economic development of the area and with artificial intelligence (AI), in which a noble promenade can be seen, in front of the sports car. The optics partly resemble a AI video for the future Gazas that Trump had spread. There is talk of “green” building and renewable energies in several places.

Opportunities for success of the Egyptian plan completely open

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Issa al-Chalifa, Katars Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as well as UN General Secretary Anónio Guterres and EU President António Costa came to the summit in Cairo. Guterres said that the Palestinians had “got through more than hell”. At the end of the public session, Al-Sisi said that the participants had accepted the plan.

In a political part, the Egyptian plan calls for the beginning of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians with “guarantees” of their choice. In the past decades, however, all efforts to settle the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians with diplomatic means have been unsuccessful.

Whether and when the plan could be implemented is completely open – also because the ceasefire in Gaza is on the brink and the war could flare up again.

In the final declaration, the summit participants called on the UN Security Council to send peace troops to Gaza and West Bank. This would increase the security for Palestinians as well as for Israelis and paved the way to a Palestinian state.

Answer to Trump’s “Riviera” plans

Above all, the paper seems to be the attempt to counter Trump’s controversial proposals quickly. He had proposed to “move” the around two million Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan permanently. Both countries are large recipients of US foreign assistance. The UN warned of Trump’s statements, which caused great outrage in the Arab world and beyond, of “ethnic cleansing”.

“The plan is an alternative to the American proposal for the forced expulsion,” said Mohammed Higasi, former Vice Secretary of State Egypt, the dpa. “We are on the right track.” In the reconstruction plans there is an “Arabic unit”.