Arab leaders are discussing an Egyptian counterproposal to Trump’s Gaza plan at a summit in Cairo, focusing on keeping residents in Gaza during reconstruction. The proposal includes temporary housing and the creation of a new Palestinian police force. Ongoing tensions with Hamas, which refuses to relinquish power, pose significant challenges to rebuilding efforts.
Arab leaders convened in Cairo to deliberate on an Egyptian counterproposal to U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to rebuild the Gaza Strip. Amid skepticism from Arab media regarding the plan’s feasibility—especially with Hamas’s firm hold over Gaza—Egypt’s proposal aims to keep residents within the territory during the reconstruction phase, proposing temporary housing in seven locations.
Egypt and several Arab nations oppose Trump’s plan, which suggests the relocation of Gaza’s Palestinians during rebuilding efforts. President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has expressed gratitude to President Trump for his contributions toward Gaza’s reconstruction and indicated that technocrats should administer Gaza temporarily until a new Palestinian police force is trained, striving to secure funding for rebuilding.
El-Sissi announced that Egypt would host a donor’s conference next month to support these efforts. The situation in Gaza remains precarious, with Israel alleging that Hamas is exploiting humanitarian aid as a key revenue source, leading to a halt of aid shipments.
Political sociology expert Said Sadek noted significant Arab resistance against disarming Hamas and enforcing a transfer of power for reconstruction. Sadek remarked, “This summit will discuss how to marginalize [or] sideline Hamas… the trouble is how can you force Hamas to leave Gaza and how can you deprive them of their weapons?”
Reports indicate leaders might support a request to the United Nations for a joint Arab-international peacekeeping force to oversee Gaza temporarily while a Palestinian police force is trained. Egypt has declined to regain control of Gaza, which it ruled prior to 1967.
Arab League spokesperson Jamal Rushdy sought to mitigate concerns over Egypt’s Gaza plan, describing it as an initial step towards securing the necessary funds for reconstruction. Hamas has consistently rejected any notion of relinquishing power, asserting its right to maintain its weapons. In response, Israel has threatened to renew hostilities, claiming Hamas has bolstered its military capabilities to 30,000 personnel.
Since Hamas assumed control in 2007, Egyptian mediators have attempted negotiations with limited success, following Hamas’s ouster of the Fatah-led Palestinian forces.
In summary, the extraordinary summit in Cairo highlights the complexities surrounding the reconstruction of Gaza amid ongoing disputes with Hamas. The proposed Egyptian plan aims to keep Gazans within the territory during rebuilding efforts, while regional leaders explore measures to manage Hamas’s influence. Continued tensions between Israel and Hamas threaten the peace process, necessitating diplomatic efforts to ensure stability and recovery in Gaza.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
