Leading EU nations have expressed their support for an Arab-backed plan to reconstruct Gaza that would cost $53 billion (£41 billion) and avoid displacing Palestinians from the territory. The plan, devised by Egypt and endorsed by Arab leaders, has been rejected by Israel and US President Donald Trump, who presented an alternative vision to transform the Gaza Strip into a “Middle East Riviera.” The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and Britain welcomed the plan on Saturday, stating that it offers a “realistic” approach to rebuilding Gaza over a period of five years. They emphasized that the proposal guarantees a “swift and sustainable improvement” in the living conditions of the people in Gaza.
The plan proposes temporary governance of Gaza by a committee of independent experts, with international peacekeepers deployed to the territory. The committee would oversee humanitarian aid and manage Gaza’s affairs under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority, providing an alternative to Trump’s idea of US involvement and resettlement of Gaza’s population. Both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have expressed support for the proposal, which was presented by Egypt at an emergency Arab League summit on Tuesday. However, the White House and Israeli foreign ministry have criticized the plan, asserting that residents cannot live in hazardous conditions and emphasizing President Trump’s vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas.
The European countries’ statement on Saturday highlighted their commitment to working with the Arab initiative and their appreciation for the “important signal” sent by the Arab states in developing the plan. They also emphasized that Hamas should neither govern Gaza nor pose a threat to Israel, supporting the central role of the Palestinian Authority and its reform agenda. The proposal was formulated amid concerns over the fragility of Gaza’s ceasefire deal, which expired on 1 March. Israel has been blocking aid to pressure Hamas to accept a new US proposal for a temporary extension of the truce, while Hamas insists on proceeding with the second phase as agreed upon. The conflict has resulted in the displacement of almost all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents since its inception, with over 48,000 Palestinians killed and extensive destruction of infrastructure due to Israeli military actions.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rz0jvvpwwo
