 "Trump pushes Arab world into a Europe-like huddle")
US President Donald Trump has pictured a new reality for Palestinians, one that involves “beautiful communities” and “modern homes”. But all of this can only come true if people in the Gaza Strip move ahead with the president’s plan of leaving the region altogether after the war ends.
This would mean that Palestinians, at least the ones who still have homes that weren’t destroyed by Israeli jets, have to upend their lives and bid farewell to their long-treasured abodes.
Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month where he floated the idea of “taking over Gaza”, a remark that invited widespread criticism from around the world. However, this was not the first time the Republican leader has suggested a plan that would require Gazans to leave their homes permanently. There have been multiple instances when Trump has pushed for the displacement of the Palestinian people and to “clean the whole thing out”.
Potus’ post-war reconstruction plan does not sit right with Arab leaders who have other propositions in their heads for the fate of Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war finally comes to an end.
Arab nations drafting separate proposals
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week, “All these countries say how much they care about the Palestinians. If the Arab countries have a better plan, then that’s great.”
So, Arab nations are doing exactly that as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have sat down to brainstorm an alternative blueprint for post-war Gaza, one that would not force Palestinians out of their homes and reconstruct the region.
Representatives from the five countries are set to meet in Saudi Arabia on Friday to chart out the details of such a project, promising to hold a much bigger summit on the same in March.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsDuring these meetings, Egypt is expected to suggest establishing a governing body composed of Palestinian technocrats and local leaders without ties to Hamas to oversee Gaza in the post-war period, according to a report by the New York Times.
Arab nations to invest in Gaza’s future
Amid all of these steps that have already been taken to counter Trump’s takeover plan, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi upcoming trip to Riyadh is expected to tick off funding for Gaza’s reconstruction.
In Saudi, Sissi will discuss an Arab plan that will include up to $20 billion in contributions towards the region’s future.
The latest Egyptian proposal involves forming a national Palestinian committee to govern Gaza without Hamas involvement, international participation in reconstruction without displacing Palestinians abroad, and movement towards a two-state solution
Will Israel let Arab nations implement its plan?
While the group’s plan might be favourable for Palestinians in spirit, it cannot pass through without hurdles in the form of Israeli intervention.
The proposal faces a fundamental challenge, having been introduced four years ago but encountering strong resistance from Israel, which now holds even tighter control over the region. Israel’s opposition aligns with its broader stance against any initiatives that could pave the way for a Palestinian state, especially in Gaza.
Israel has severely hindered Gaza’s reconstruction by enforcing a blockade since 2007, restricting essential building materials like cement and steel under the pretext of security concerns. These limitations have caused major delays in rebuilding homes and infrastructure, even for internationally funded projects.
Europe’s similar response to Trump
Trump’s ideas of a postwar future have not only woken up Arab nations but also Europe as the president pushes for unconventional plans for Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron has convened multiple summits with European heads of state to forge a unified approach to the Ukraine conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has advocated for the creation of a “European army” to bolster the continent’s defence capabilities.
With inputs from agencies
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