Arab leaders back Egypt’s $53b Gaza reconstruction plan |

Arab leaders in Cairo on Tuesday are poised to approve a counterproposal to US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, which suggested depopulating the area of Palestinians to create a beach destination, according to The Associated Press.

This comes amidst uncertainty over the continuation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire as the feasibility of Trump’s Gaza plan, which would likely necessitate a resumption of Israeli military action, remains questionable.

Israel’s previous offensive devastated Gaza, killing over 48,000 Palestinians according to local health authorities, and the country has again blocked the entry of crucial supplies to the region in an attempt to force Hamas to accept a ceasefire deal and release hostages.

In contrast, Egypt has unveiled a comprehensive $53 billion plan for Gaza’s reconstruction by 2030, without displacing its population.

This ambitious 112-page plan includes the removal of unexploded ordnance, clearing debris from the Israeli bombardments, and setting up temporary housing for Gaza’s residents. The reconstruction would incorporate green, sustainable housing, agricultural renovations, and new industrial zones.

Egypt’s plan also proposes the construction of an airport, a fishing port, and a commercial port—projects that were originally part of the Oslo peace accords but stalled due to the collapse of the peace process. This reconstruction strategy is set to be endorsed by Middle Eastern leaders later Tuesday.

Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike in Jenin, West Bank, killed Hamas leader Aysar al-Saadi. His death, following Israel’s ongoing military operation in the northern West Bank, has been condemned by Hamas, which vows that the attack will not halt the growing wave of Palestinian resistance.