CAIRO, Egypt — President Trump and a coalition of Arab nations have proposed very different ways to rebuild and revitalize the Gaza Strip, the crowded Palestinian enclave devastated by Israel’s military campaign to avenge the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist rampage by Hamas militants.
For many in Gaza pondering an uncertain future, the how is far less important than the when.
“I can’t return to my home in Jabalia — the rubble is too much to clear, and rebuilding is impossible. Now my family is in a tent in central Gaza, waiting for this war to finally end,” said Saed Hamed Abu Aita, a 44-year-old Palestinian political writer. More than 1.5 million people in Gaza are displaced, their homes destroyed.
“My family and I are just one example,” Mr. Abu Aita said. “We are all searching for life in a place where 90% of the land is unfit for human habitation. We cling to hope, waiting for a political breakthrough, praying that the Arab summit will gradually restore life in Gaza and prevent future wars.”
Mr. Trump jump-started the conversation on the day after for Gaza with a startling suggestion that its Palestinian residents be relocated and the U.S. take over the mission of converting the enclave bordering the Mediterranean into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The plan sparked befuddlement and outrage in many corners here, but also fueled the first serious joint effort from players in the region to address Gaza’s future.
Regional leaders earlier this month backed an ambitious $53 billion Egyptian-led plan to rebuild Gaza, but uncertainty remains over whether political disputes and security concerns will stall the effort before it begins. The apparent breakdown in the shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hamas this week — and another deadly air bombing campaign by Israeli forces Monday — is likely only to complicate the politics and financing of any rebuilding dreams for Gaza’s more than 2 million Palestinian residents.
The reconstruction initiative, endorsed at an Arab League summit in Cairo, aims to restore Gaza’s devastated infrastructure without forcing the territory’s 2.2 million residents to relocate.
It also seeks to sideline Hamas from governance, replacing it with a technocratic administration under the Palestinian Authority (PA), while international donors fund rebuilding efforts.
But Palestinians determined to stay in Gaza remain skeptical.
Many see the diplomatic push as more about regional security than relief for those suffering under blockade, displacement and economic collapse. Israeli nationalists have also warmly embraced Mr. Trump’s vision, seeing it as a way to address a chronic security problem on the country’s borders and deal Hamas and its fighters perhaps a fatal organizing blow.
“The Arab summit wasn’t really about helping Gaza — it was about each country protecting its own security,” said Neama Hassan, a writer from Rafah.
Ms. Hassan described the daily struggles: “Prices keep changing every day, and no one’s in charge to stop people from taking advantage of us. We haven’t had electricity since the war started, and finding clean water is almost impossible.”
The March 4 Arab summit in Cairo saw regional leaders backing Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi’s expansive $53 billion reconstruction plan. The plan aims to rebuild Gaza without forcing its 2.2 million residents off their land, directly opposing earlier Israeli and American proposals that involved forced displacement.
Egypt’s plan has three phases: First is a six-month “Early Recovery” stage to clear rubble and set up safe zones and temporary shelters. Then, a five-year “Reconstruction and Stabilization” phase will rebuild hospitals, schools, roads and utilities.
Finally, a phase lasting up to 20 years will create a stable, functioning Palestinian government, potentially leading to lasting peace with Israel and a possible two-state solution.
Unhappy with Hamas
Underlying the plan is a deep unhappiness with Hamas and the chain of events it unleashed with its surprise rampage through southern Israel in October 2023.
Egyptian analyst Sarah Sharif explained Cairo’s stance toward Hamas: “After the last summit, Egypt clearly feels Hamas is making things worse. Hamas publicly refused to disarm and revealed secret talks with the U.S. Egypt doesn’t want Hamas running Gaza because stability there directly affects Egyptian security.”
Mr. Sharif added, “Egypt wants a technocratic government led by the Palestinian Authority [PA] and significant PA reforms. The goal is simple — reduce Hamas’s power without Egypt directly taking over Gaza.
Mohamed Ibrahim, Egypt’s former key negotiator on Palestinian affairs, detailed Egypt’s strategy.
“We’ve agreed with Hamas on forming a new Community Support Committee,” Mr. Ibrahim told the Washington Times. “It will be made entirely of technocrats from Gaza, not tied to any political group. Hamas won’t run Gaza or even be part of the administration. This committee will temporarily govern until the Palestinian Authority returns.”
On security, Mr. Ibrahim said, “Palestinian police officers will get training in Egypt and Jordan, supported by international peacekeepers approved by the U.N. Security Council. Hamas won’t control security, making a safe environment for reconstruction.”
But Mr. Ibrahim emphasized that Israel must meet two clear conditions before reconstruction begins: “First, Israel must completely withdraw from Gaza, and second, it must end military operations. Without these, reconstruction talks won’t mean anything.”
Transparency is also critical. Mr. Ibrahim explained, “We’re creating an international development fund under global supervision to ensure accountability. Next month, Egypt will host an international donor conference to finalize funding strategies and push the U.S. to pressure Israel into allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
“The U.S. needs to pressure Israel to allow essential aid — especially building materials and heavy equipment,” Mr. Ibrahim said. “Without this, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis will get even worse.”
Middle East analyst Ahmed Elbaz noted the Arab plan displayed tight coordination between Arab powers Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
“Even though Saudi Arabia doesn’t support Hamas, it backs Egypt’s plan to counter Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s growing influence,” Mr. Elbaz said. “Saudi Arabia wants [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu to stay focused on Israel, rather than shaping regional policy, allowing Saudi Arabia more influence in Syria and Lebanon.”
Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki Al-Faisal insisted Israel must help fund reconstruction. “There should be an international fund — not just for Gaza but also for the West Bank — and Israel should pay part of it,” he said. “Only a lasting ceasefire will prevent new destruction.”
Israeli analyst Gershon Baskin strongly opposed externally imposed solutions, stating clearly, “Gaza doesn’t belong to Israel to give away to Trump.”
“It is essential to support the Palestinian Authority — a civil government — that manages the affairs of both Gaza and the West Bank. This should be a core Arab demand, ensuring the Palestinian Authority’s involvement in a comprehensive political solution that guarantees future stability in the Arab region,” said Mr. Abu Aita.
For ordinary Gazans, such diplomatic and political debates seem far removed from their immediate needs.
“We are outside the realm of politics. We are in the heart of war, even after the truce,” Neama Hassan, the writer from Rafah, observed. “There are no changes; we are still trying to survive or convince death to be merciful. Work, education and life in all its forms are another battle — a fight to prove your existence and cling to whatever strength you have left.”
While regional leaders debate strategies, administrative arrangements and funding sources, Gaza residents continue to suffer deeply. “We still hope that the Arab voice will unite, assert its strength, and grant life to Gaza,” said Ms. Hassan.
