 "A demonstrator releases a black smoke flare as others gather during a protest calling for action to release the remaining hostages held captive in Gaza since the 2023 October 7 attacks by Palestinian militants, outside the Israeli Defence Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on March 1, 2025. Image- AFP")
Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan, designed to ensure Palestinians remain on their land is finalised and will be presented at an emergency Arab summit in Cairo on Tuesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Sunday.
Arab states, which quickly rejected President Donald Trump’s proposal for the US to take control of Gaza and resettle Palestinians are working to coordinate a diplomatic response to counter the plan.
Trump’s proposal, unveiled on February 4 during a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, marked a departure from the longstanding U.S. policy supporting a two-state solution, drawing widespread criticism from Palestinians and Arab nations.
Abdelatty said Egypt would seek international backing and funding for the plan and emphasised Europe’s crucial role, particularly in the financing of Gaza’s reconstruction.
”We will hold intensive talks with major donor countries once the plan is adopted at the upcoming Arab Summit,” he said in a press conference with the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica.
He also urged the European Union to exert “maximum pressure on the parties, especially the Israeli party, regarding commitment to the ceasefire agreement”.
As the 42-day first phase of the ceasefire drew to a close, Israel backed an extension proposed by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which would cover the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover.
Hamas, however, has repeatedly rejected extending the first phase, instead insisting on moving directly to the second stage.
This would involve the release of all remaining hostages and a more permanent end to the fighting in Gaza.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIsrael on Sunday blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza as a standoff over the truce that has halted fighting for the past six weeks escalated. Abdelatty said the use of aid as a weapon of collective punishment could not be permitted.
The first phase of the fragile ceasefire agreement expired this weekend. Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to the originally agreed ceasefire that had been scheduled to move into a second phase. ”It will be difficult, but with goodwill and political determination, it can be achieved,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said earlier that it had adopted a U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for the Ramadan and Passover periods.
Abdelatty said after Tuesday’s summit, foreign ministers of member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation would hold an urgent meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss how to present the plans.
”We will ensure that the results of the Arab summit are presented to the world in the best possible way,” he said.
With inputs from agencies