Analysis of Egypt’s Plan for Reconstruction of Gaza

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Egypt’s comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, which was “unveiled” at the recent Arab League summit in Cairo, is the most important plan of the Arab countries in rebuilding Gaza that was approved at this meeting. To implement the proposed plan by Egypt, $53 billion in financial resources have been allocated, almost equal to the cost of rebuilding Gaza.

Barsam Mohammadi – Regional Affairs Expert

This plan will be implemented in three stages and over 5 years as follows:

First Stage: IDPs will be settled in seven points in Gaza, including Rafah, Khan Yunis, Deir el-Bahr, and other points, and then more than 50 million tons of debris, waste, and unexploded bombs will be collected and neutralized, especially from the Salah al-Din Highway. The Salah al-Din Highway will serve as the main reconstruction corridor. A time frame of 6 months and a cost of about $3 billion have been allocated for this stage.

Second and intermediate stage: The reconstruction of damaged buildings will begin. In addition, 400,000 permanent housing units will be built, and basic infrastructure, including water, electricity, and telecommunications networks, a port, an international airport, a public transport network, and 20,000 hectares of agricultural land will be restored. This phase’s estimated cost is $20 billion and will be completed in 2 years.

The final phase: housing projects will be completed, and the construction of commercial and industrial facilities will begin on 600 hectares. It will be completed in 2.5 years by 2030. $30 billion will be allocated for this phase.

UN agencies, international financial institutions, donor countries, investment funds, development agencies, development banks, foreign direct investment from multinational companies, and civil society organizations are the main sources of financing for the reconstruction of Gaza in the Egyptian proposed plan.

According to the plan approved by the Arab League, a government of independent Palestinian technocrats will be formed, and a guidance and management council will oversee the interim government in Gaza. In the meantime, Egypt and Jordan will help train the Palestinian police to maintain security.

The Cairo plan has outstanding strengths compared to the Trump administration’s plan because first, it covers almost all the costs of rebuilding Gaza; second, it does not involve population transfers outside Gaza and allows the Palestinians living in Gaza, who number more than 2 million, to remain in their land. Germany, Britain, France, and Italy, as four major European countries, supported the Cairo plan.

The plan, which Hamas has welcomed, does not take a clear position on the administration of Gaza without Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) are introduced as the main institutions for managing the region.

The Cairo Plan is a multifaceted initiative that could achieve the following visions:

One: Provide decent living conditions for Gaza residents by reconstructing critical infrastructure.

Two: Facilitate economic growth in Gaza by creating job opportunities, supporting small businesses, and promoting investment.

Three: Facilitate and accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Four: Focus on establishing strong and transparent governance mechanisms in Gaza by supporting the development of a unified Palestinian state, promoting the rule of law, and empowering civil society.

Five: Reduce tension in the Gaza Strip.

Six: Attract support from regional countries and international organizations to reconstruct Gaza.

Seven: Empower Palestinians living in Gaza to lead the reconstruction process and determine their own destiny through community participation, capacity building, and promoting local ownership.

The US government and the Israeli regime have opposed the plan. The reason why the US and the Zionist regime oppose this plan lies precisely in the strengths of the scheme, especially the fact that Gaza residents are not displaced outside of the land; it is in contrast to the Trump plan, which does not consider any role for the US and the Israeli regime in the reconstruction and political future of Gaza.

The US and the Zionist regime are pursuing a specific and common goal in Gaza, which is to impose a new political, security, and geographical framework on Gaza in which there is no mention of Hamas and the resistance discourse in Gaza, and this region, by purifying its population, is entirely and fundamentally removed from the circle of military, field and security threats against the Israeli regime.

Although the implementation of the Gaza reconstruction plan is complicated by specific political and security circumstances and faces significant political and security challenges (lack of international agreement, opposition from the US and the Israeli regime, and the possibility of continued tensions), financial (providing financial resources, especially when many countries are facing domestic economic problems and economic sanctions and restrictions imposed on Gaza), and operational (tight schedule and large volume of damaged infrastructure), it is a comprehensive, complete, and largely realistic plan to address the challenges facing the Gaza Strip. Its goal is to create a more prosperous, stable, and resilient Gaza that can contribute to regional peace and security.

However, if military conflicts and tensions continue, Gaza reconstruction will face serious problems. Any new conflict could destroy the achievements of reconstruction.