Cairo, March 4, 2025: Arab leaders meeting in Cairo on Tuesday are set to approve a counterproposal to U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial Gaza plan, which reportedly suggested depopulating the area to transform it into a beach destination, according to The Associated Press.
The move comes amid uncertainty over the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, as Trump’s proposal—likely requiring renewed Israeli military action—faces feasibility concerns.
In contrast, Egypt has unveiled an ambitious $53 billion plan to rebuild Gaza by 2030 without displacing its population. This 112-page proposal includes clearing debris from Israeli bombardments, removing unexploded ordnance, temporary housing for displaced residents, sustainable green housing projects and agricultural revival and new industrial zones.
Additionally, the plan envisions the long-awaited construction of an airport, fishing port, and a commercial port, projects originally part of the Oslo Accords but abandoned due to the collapse of the peace process.
The reconstruction initiative is expected to receive formal backing from Middle Eastern leaders later on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated in the West Bank, where an Israeli airstrike in Jenin killed senior Hamas leader Aysar al-Saadi. The attack, part of Israel’s continued military operations in the northern West Bank, has been condemned by Hamas, which vowed that the strike would not deter Palestinian resistance.
With Arab leaders rallying behind Egypt’s comprehensive reconstruction effort, the fate of Gaza—and the future of any lasting peace—remains in flux.
