In a significant development, representatives of several Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, met in Riyadh to discuss an alternative to the Trump Plan for Gaza. The informal meeting, described as “fraternal,” aimed to bring together different positions on a proposal for the region. This gathering was seen as a precursor to the Arab League Summit scheduled for March 4 in Cairo, where a more concrete proposal is expected to emerge.
The meeting in Riyadh was attended by representatives from Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, among others. These countries would be directly affected by any plans for Gaza, and their input is crucial. The Trump Plan, unveiled on February 7, proposes taking control of the Gaza Strip and transforming it into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” which would involve the expulsion of approximately two million people.
The Arab community of nations has unanimously rejected the Trump Plan, with both Egypt and Jordan expressing their opposition. Although the US president has suggested that these countries might eventually come around to his plan, the Arab states remain united in their rejection of the proposal to expel the Palestinian population from the territory. However, they differ on how the territory should be administered, particularly with regard to Hamas’s significant power and who should finance the reconstruction.
According to reports from Egyptian state media, Ahram, Egypt has proposed a plan to rebuild Gaza over a period of 10 to 20 years, with financing from Arab countries in the Gulf. This plan would not require the population to leave the territory, and Hamas would be excluded from the political administration. The first phase of the plan would involve a period of three to five years, with the initial six months dedicated to clearing debris, demolishing ruined infrastructure, and establishing safe areas for temporary housing.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated that his country is ready to rebuild the Gaza Strip and improve its situation. However, the future of Gaza, Hamas, and the Palestinian population remains uncertain, and negotiations are ongoing. Another underlying issue is the struggle for regional hegemony, with Saudi Arabia increasingly asserting its claim to this role. The kingdom is aware of Trump’s efforts to persuade Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to publicly normalize relations with Israel during his term. While Saudi Arabia’s current position is that there will be no agreement with Israel without a Palestinian state, the kingdom seeks to strengthen its military cooperation with Washington and increase investments in the United States, as well as boost commercial and technological exchanges with Israel.
Ultimately, any proposal for Gaza’s reconstruction will require the cooperation of Israel, which is unlikely to accept any formula that does not involve the exclusion of Hamas. The current positions of the parties involved make the equation seem irresoluble. A joint statement from the World Bank, the European Union, and the United Nations estimates that three years of work and at least €50 billion would be necessary to provide essential services to the population of Gaza, which numbers around 2.2 million people. However, any reconstruction proposal hinges on a sustained truce between Hamas and the Israeli government, a possibility that seems increasingly unlikely given recent developments, including the captivity of Israeli hostages by Hamas since October 2023.