Egypt counters Trump’s Gaza plan with new reconstruction strategy

Cairo’s proposal calls for a multi-phase reconstruction process while rejecting Trump's call for depopulating Gaza.

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Egypt is actively developing a reconstruction plan for Gaza in response to United States President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to "take over" the territory and displace its population.

The Egyptian government aims to rebuild Gaza without forcing its Palestinian inhabitants out, offering a potential alternative to Trump’s widely condemned idea.

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, confirmed on Monday that Cairo is working on a comprehensive, multi-phase plan aimed at Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction. This announcement was made in a report by Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram newspaper.

The proposed plan, which is set to be finalised by next week, seeks to ensure that Gaza’s residents can stay within their homeland while the territory's infrastructure is rebuilt. This would include the establishment of secure areas within Gaza, where Palestinians can live during the first phase of reconstruction, due to begin after an emergency Arab summit in Cairo on February 27. These areas would host residents in mobile houses, with humanitarian aid allowed to flow in.

The first phase of the reconstruction is expected to last for six months, and it will focus on clearing debris and repairing vital infrastructure, including roads and health facilities.

Over the next five years, Egypt’s plan will progress in multiple stages. It is estimated that tens of thousands of jobs will be created for Gaza’s population during this process.

While discussions continue with European diplomats, as well as Arab partners Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, about funding the project, there is also talk of holding an international conference to garner additional support for Gaza’s recovery.

Egypt’s proposal directly counters President Trump's recent assertions, which have sparked global uproar. Trump suggested that the US could "take over" Gaza, displacing its two million residents and permanently resettling them elsewhere. He has even urged Egypt and Jordan to accept the Palestinian population, a suggestion that has been firmly rejected by both countries.

Critics, including human rights organisations, have condemned Trump's plan as ethnic cleansing. Palestinians have repeatedly stated their refusal to leave their homeland. The plan has also faced condemnation from European countries, while Israel has expressed support for it, suggesting it would help in the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

In contrast, Egypt’s reconstruction proposal is designed to "refute" Trump’s logic, aiming to protect Gaza’s geographic and demographic integrity. The plan will establish a Palestinian administration that is not aligned with either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority to oversee Gaza’s recovery.

The proposal also includes the creation of a Palestinian police force made up of former Palestinian Authority police officers, reinforced by Egyptian and Western-trained forces.

As discussions progress, Egypt’s government is also considering ways to finance the reconstruction, including through contributions from international donors. The outcome of these talks could have significant implications for Gaza's future, as the second phase of a ceasefire agreement is set to begin in early March. This phase will address the release of hostages, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the long-term governance of the region.