Arab League’s Gaza reconstruction plan reaches agreement
Palestinians struggle to survive their daily lives in makeshift tents among the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli attacks after the ceasefire agreement came into force in Beit Lahia, Gaza on February 18, 2025. (AA Photo)
In a significant move at the Arab League summit, an agreement was reached on a draft plan for the reconstruction of Gaza. The plan, prepared by Egypt, outlines the need for $53 billion to rebuild the Gaza Strip.
With U.S. President Donald Trump having communicated taking control of Gaza, the key question now is how he will respond to this development.
Elections across all Palestinian territories as conditions improve
Under the plan, Gaza will undergo a two-phase reconstruction process over a period of 4.5 years, with the construction of 400,000 new homes and an airport. As conditions improve, elections will be held across all Palestinian territories.
Trump’s previous statements on Gaza
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously made headlines with his plans to take control of the Gaza Strip, claiming that the U.S. would assume “long-term” ownership of the area. He even suggested that American troops could be deployed there for security purposes if necessary.
Trump stated, “The U.S. will take control of the Gaza Strip, and we will do business there. We will own it, and we will be responsible for clearing all the dangerous unexploded bombs, other weapons, and rubble from the destroyed buildings.”
He further claimed that the only reason Palestinians wanted to return to Gaza was the lack of alternatives, stating that around 1.8 million Palestinians in the region would move to newly established living areas in neighboring countries.
Implications for Trump’s Gaza plans
The recent developments at the Arab League summit could significantly challenge Trump’s plans for Gaza. As Arab nations take substantial steps toward rebuilding the region, Trump’s hopes of assuming control could face serious setbacks, with a large-scale regional initiative moving forward without U.S. involvement.
The question remains how the Trump administration will respond to this new reality, especially considering the scale of the financial and political commitments from the Arab world to Gaza’s future.
As the situation evolves, it seems that the path forward for Gaza may no longer be solely in the hands of the U.S., and the Arab League’s collective action could play a pivotal role in shaping the region’s future.
