Arab Leaders Gather in Cairo as Egypt Proposes Gaza Reconstruction Plan

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

An emergency Arab League summit convened in Cairo on Tuesday, bringing together regional leaders to discuss the future of post-war Gaza. The summit also served as a platform to counter a controversial U.S. proposal previously floated by former President Donald Trump.

Egypt’s Alternative Plan

Egypt has put forward a comprehensive strategy focused on rebuilding Gaza while ensuring that Palestinians remain in their homeland. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry highlighted that the plan prioritizes humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and governance stability in Gaza. It firmly rejects any forced displacement of Palestinians to Egypt or Jordan— a key element of Trump’s earlier proposal.

Trump’s plan, first suggested on February 5, proposed that the U.S. take control of Gaza while relocating 1.7 million Palestinians to neighboring countries. This idea faced widespread rejection from Arab states, who consider any forced displacement of Palestinians a severe threat to regional stability and national security.

High-Level Participation

The summit, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, saw the attendance of prominent Arab leaders, including:

• Jordan’s King Abdullah II
• Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
• Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Khalifa
• Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
• Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, representing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas

Leaders from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Mauritania also participated in the discussions.

Key Provisions of the Plan

Ahead of the summit, Arab foreign ministers met in Cairo on Monday to finalize Egypt’s proposal for Gaza’s governance and reconstruction.

According to a draft document reviewed by Reuters, the plan includes:

• A governance mission to replace Hamas’s control of Gaza for a transitional period
• Supervision of humanitarian aid entry and distribution
• Large-scale reconstruction projects to restore war-damaged infrastructure

A Regional Divide on Gaza’s Future

The summit highlights the growing divide between Washington’s approach to Gaza’s future and the Arab world’s efforts to ensure Palestinians are not displaced. While the U.S. explores alternative solutions, Arab nations are advocating for a Palestinian-led governance structure that does not involve forced relocation.

With mounting international pressure, Arab leaders are expected to use the summit to solidify a unified stance against Trump’s plan while calling for a long-term and sustainable resolution to the Gaza crisis.