FACT BOX - Key features of Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan
- Dedicated fund will be established to facilitate recovery efforts
ISTANBUL 3/5/25
Egypt unveiled a detailed plan Tuesday for rebuilding Gaza, emphasizing a structured reconstruction process, Palestinian self-governance and long-term stability.
The cost of reconstruction is estimated at $53 billion, with the entire process to take five years.
Governance and Administration
- A technocratic administration will be formed to manage Gaza’s affairs during a six-month transition period.
- The non-partisan committee will operate under the Palestinian government’s leadership, preparing the ground for full Palestinian control of the territory.
- Egypt and Jordan will train Palestinian police forces to restore security and order.
Housing and Infrastructure
- Temporary housing will be provided within designated sites inside Gaza to accommodate displaced residents.
- The plan includes seven areas within the Gaza Strip that will accommodate more than 1.5 million people.
- The reconstruction of Gaza is estimated to cost $53 billion and will take five years to complete.
- Reconstruction will proceed in phases, starting with clearing debris and setting up emergency housing.
- The first phase, which will last two years and will cost $20 billion, includes the construction of 200,000 housing units.
- The second phase, which will span two and a half years, has an estimated cost of $30 billion. This phase includes the construction of another 200,000 housing units along with an airport.
- The early recovery plan will be implemented over six months at a cost of $3 billion.
- Plans include building new residential areas, a seaport, a technology hub and coastal tourism facilities to support Gaza’s economic revival.
- The proposal is backed by detailed maps and AI-generated visual models outlining future developments in housing, parks and community centers.
Security and Political Roadmap
- The plan rejects forced displacement and affirms Gaza as an inseparable part of Palestinian land.
- A gradual security transition will be implemented, with discussions on the potential deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Egypt stresses that addressing armed groups must be part of a credible political process, ensuring stability through negotiations rather than force.
Ceasefire and Diplomatic Efforts
- The proposal calls for sustained international efforts to maintain the ceasefire and reaffirms the highest priority for the completion of the implementation of the agreement's second and third phases.
- Egypt urges global support for diplomatic mediation efforts led by Egypt, Qatar and the US to prevent further escalations.
- A medium-term truce between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is suggested as an interim step, allowing time for confidence-building measures before broader peace talks.
International Support and Reconstruction Funding
- The Egyptian government will host a global conference in Cairo to coordinate financial and political backing for Gaza’s reconstruction.
- A dedicated fund will be established to facilitate recovery efforts, with appeals for international donors to contribute.
- An Arab-Islamic Joint Ministerial Committee will conduct necessary communications and visits to international capitals in order to explain the plan.
- Arab foreign ministers will move at the UN and with permanent members of the Security Council to discuss possible actions against attempts to eliminate the Palestinian cause.
- They will work to rally international pressure for Israel’s withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories, including Syria and Lebanon.
Humanitarian and Legal Framework
- The plan condemns civilian casualties and highlights the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- It reaffirms that the two-state solution is the only viable path forward, aligning with international law and UN resolutions.
- Egypt warns that a failure to support reconstruction efforts could lead to greater instability and prolonged conflict.
Next Steps
- The Palestinian Authority is encouraged to enhance governance reforms, ensuring efficient administration in Gaza.
- The international community is urged to support peace-building measures and avoid actions that could jeopardize stability.
Reform Efforts and Commitment to Elections
- The plan welcomed Palestine’s ongoing efforts toward comprehensive reform at all levels.
- It also supported Palestine’s push to hold legislative and presidential elections as soon as conditions allow.
Nearly 48,400 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and more than 111,000 have been injured in a brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza since October 2023. The assault, which left the enclave in ruins, was paused under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold on Jan. 19.
Israel halted the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza on Sunday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to start negotiations on the second phase of a ceasefire deal between Tel Aviv and Hamas.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
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