Arab leaders convened in Riyadh to formulate a strategy for the reconstruction of Gaza following the war, aiming to counter Donald Trump’s proposal for the United States to assume control of the territory while displacing its Palestinian residents.
The plan put forth by Mr. Trump has unified Arab nations in opposition; however, differences persist regarding the governance of Gaza and potential funding sources for its reconstruction.
A broadcast on Saudi state television featured the kingdom’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, alongside leaders from other Gulf Arab states, Egypt, and Jordan.
A source close to the Saudi administration confirmed that the meeting had concluded, but the hosts did not immediately issue a final statement.
Earlier, a Saudi source informed AFP that the Palestinian Authority, which rivals Hamas in the West Bank, was also anticipated to participate in the discussions.
Mr. Trump’s suggestion to have the United States “take over” Gaza and relocate its over two million residents to Egypt and Jordan sparked widespread outrage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed full support for Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal.
“We are at a crucial historical turning point in the Arab-Israeli or Israeli-Palestinian conflict… where the United States under Trump could potentially create irreversible new realities,” stated Andreas Krieg from King’s College London prior to the meeting.
A Saudi source indicated that summit attendees would examine “a reconstruction plan to counter Mr. Trump’s proposal for Gaza.”
After over 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, Gaza now lies extensively in ruins, with the United Nations recently estimating that reconstruction costs could exceed $53 billion.
In a meeting with Mr. Trump in Washington on February 11, Jordan’s King Abdullah II mentioned that Egypt would provide a forward-looking plan.
The Saudi source noted that the delegates would deliberate on “a variant of the Egyptian plan.”
According to the official Saudi Press Agency, decisions made during the “unofficial fraternal meeting” will be presented at an emergency Arab League summit scheduled in Egypt for March 4.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II stated that Egypt would offer a plan for Gaza during his meeting with Mr. Trump.
Arab leaders regard an alternative reconstruction plan for Gaza as vital, particularly after Mr. Trump alluded to the scale of the rebuilding effort as a reason to relocate its Palestinian inhabitants.
While Cairo has yet to disclose the specifics of its proposal, former Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Hegazy described a plan “in three technical phases spanning three to five years.”
The initial phase, lasting six months, would concentrate on “early recovery” and debris removal, he said.
The second phase would necessitate an international conference to outline detailed reconstruction plans and restore infrastructure.
The final phase would encompass the provision of housing and services as well as the establishment of a “political track to implement the two-state solution,” leading to an independent Palestine alongside Israel.
A Palestinian girl is seen living amidst the rubble of destroyed homes in Khan Younis.
An Arab diplomat knowledgeable about Gulf affairs remarked: “The foremost challenge facing the Egyptian plan is how to finance it.”
“It would be unimaginable for Arab leaders to convene without arriving at a shared vision, but the crucial factors lie in the substance of this vision and its feasibility for implementation.”
Mr. Krieg branded it a “unique opportunity” for the “Saudis to unite all the other GCC countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to create a collective stance in response to the coercive statements made by Trump.”
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