Egypt is moving forward with a plan to fund and oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, a process expected to take between three to five years, following President Donald Trump’s bold proposal for the United States to take control of the war-ravaged enclave.
Multiple reports indicate that Egypt’s reconstruction initiative would involve Arab nations, the European Union, and the United Nations—but not the United States. This development comes as Trump has doubled down on his call to relocate two million Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab states, positioning the U.S. as the primary force in rebuilding the territory.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Egypt’s proposal aims to:
- Rebuild Gaza without displacing its population.
- Establish a committee of Palestinian technocrats to govern the enclave.
- Provide security through Palestinian forces trained by Arab nations.
- Delay discussions on Palestinian statehood, focusing solely on reconstruction.
As H.A. Hellyer, a Middle East security expert, put it, Trump’s seriousness about U.S. control of Gaza has pushed the Arab world into quickly forming an alternative plan.
Trump has made it clear that his administration envisions an America-led economic transformation of Gaza.
“With the United States being in control of that piece of land … you can have stability in the Middle East for the first time,” Trump said at the White House on Tuesday. “And the Palestinians, or the people that live now in Gaza, will be living beautifully in another location.”
Last week, Trump stated that America would spearhead the reconstruction by partnering with top global development teams—without deploying U.S. troops on the ground. His goal is to turn Gaza into a hub for economic growth, job creation, and housing development.
Despite Trump’s optimism, King Abdullah II of Jordan firmly rejected the idea, stating that no Arab-led nation would support a U.S. takeover of Gaza.
During a White House meeting with Trump on Tuesday, King Abdullah pledged to accept 2,000 sick Palestinian children for medical care in Jordan but indicated his country would wait for Egypt’s final plan before committing to further action.
Trump has also extended an invitation to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to discuss the matter. However, Al Sisi has yet to respond, instead opting to host a regional summit later this month with other Arab leaders to discuss the latest “dangerous developments” in the Palestinian crisis.
As diplomatic negotiations continue, Trump has taken a hardline stance against Hamas. He has given Israel a green light to unleash full military force if Hamas fails to release the remaining hostages by Saturday at noon.
Hamas recently suspended hostage releases, claiming that Israel violated the ceasefire agreement—a move that has further escalated tensions.
