Arab leaders will convene in Saudi Arabia to address U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for U.S. control and population relocation in Gaza. The summit, deemed crucial for Arab unity and the Palestinian issue, aims to discuss an alternative reconstruction plan. Key attendees include Jordan, Egypt, and Gulf Cooperation Council members. Former Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Hegazy outlined a phased reconstruction initiative, facing financing challenges. This plan aims to create a neutral Palestinian administration post-war while navigating internal disagreements about governance, especially concerning Hamas’s role. Decisions from the summit will influence an upcoming Arab League meeting in Egypt.
Riyadh:
Arab leaders are set to convene in Saudi Arabia on Friday to address President Donald Trump’s proposal for US control over Gaza and the displacement of its inhabitants, according to diplomatic and government sources.
This plan has brought Arab nations together in opposition, yet differing opinions persist regarding governance of the war-torn Palestinian region and the financing of its reconstruction.
Umer Karim, an authority on Saudi foreign policy, described the upcoming summit as the “most consequential” in decades for both the Arab world and the Palestinian situation.
Global outcry was sparked by Trump’s suggestion that the United States would “take over the Gaza Strip,” with the relocation of its 2.4 million residents to nearby Egypt and Jordan.
A source close to the Saudi government informed AFP that Arab leaders are expected to discuss “a reconstruction plan in opposition to Trump’s proposal for Gaza.”
During a meeting with Trump in Washington on February 11, Jordan’s King Abdullah II mentioned that Egypt would offer a plan moving forward.
The Saudi source noted that the discussions would involve “a variant of the Egyptian plan.”
The official Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday, citing an official, that Egypt and Jordan are attending the Riyadh summit along with the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, aimed at “enhancing cooperation… and regarding joint Arab initiatives.”
The agency also indicated that conclusions from the “unofficial fraternal meeting” in Riyadh would be on the agenda for an emergency Arab League summit scheduled for March 4 in Egypt.
Later on Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s office announced his arrival in Saudi Arabia, labeling the meeting as “informal.”
A Saudi source previously indicated to AFP that the Palestinian Authority would also participate in the discussions.
The specific location and timing of the Riyadh conference have yet to be revealed.
– Unity –
Rebuilding Gaza stands out as a crucial issue, particularly after Trump cited reconstruction as a rationale for relocating its residents.
While Cairo has not yet disclosed its initiative, former Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Hegazy proposed a plan “in three technical phases over a span of three to five years.”
The initial phase, lasting six months, would concentrate on “early recovery,” according to Hegazy, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, a think tank closely linked to Cairo’s decision-makers.
“Heavy machinery will be deployed to clear debris, and designated safe zones will be established within Gaza for the temporary relocation of residents,” Hegazy explained.
The second phase would necessitate an international conference to outline reconstruction specifics and would focus on restoring utility infrastructure, he added.
“The final phase will oversee urban development in Gaza, the construction of housing units, and the provision of education and healthcare services.”
The United Nations estimated on Tuesday that the total cost for rebuilding would exceed $53 billion.
This last phase will also encompass “initiating a political track for implementing the two-state solution.”
Karim, the Saudi policy expert, emphasized that achieving success in this plan would require “a level of Arab unity not witnessed in decades.”
– Financial challenge –
An Arab diplomat familiar with Gulf dynamics informed AFP: “The primary challenge for the Egyptian plan lies in its financing.”
“Certain nations like Kuwait are prepared to provide funding, possibly for humanitarian purposes, but other Gulf countries will impose specific conditions prior to any financial contributions.”
Egypt’s proposal aims to tackle the intricate issue of post-war governance for Gaza—under Hamas control since 2007—with “a Palestinian administration uninvolved with any factions,” Hegazy explained.
This administration will consist of “experts” and will be “politically and legally subordinate to the Palestinian Authority,” he added.
The Cairo plan envisions a police force under the Palestinian Authority, complemented by foreign security personnel.
However, differences remain.
Hegazy stated that Hamas “is likely to withdraw from the political landscape in the near future,” while the Saudi source indicated that Riyadh envisions a Gaza Strip governed by the Palestinian Authority.
Qatar, a significant mediator in the conflict, asserts that it is up to the Palestinians to determine Gaza’s future.
“I believe all regional players understand that any alternative plan proposed cannot include Hamas in any capacity, as Hamas’s presence would render it unacceptable to the US administration and Israel,” Karim stated.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been modified by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)