Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced on Sunday that Egypt’s reconstruction plan for Gaza, aimed at ensuring Palestinians remain on their land, is complete and will be presented at an emergency Arab summit in Cairo on Tuesday.
Arab nations, which swiftly rejected a U.S. proposal to take control of Gaza and resettle Palestinians elsewhere, are working to establish a united diplomatic stance against the idea.
The U.S. plan, introduced on February 4 during a delicate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, appeared to shift away from Washington’s traditional two-state solution approach, drawing strong opposition from Palestinians and Arab states.
Abdelatty emphasized Egypt’s commitment to securing international backing and financial support for the reconstruction plan, highlighting Europe’s crucial role in funding the initiative.
“We will engage in extensive discussions with key donor nations once the plan is formally adopted at the Arab summit,” he stated during a press conference with EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica.
On Sunday, Israel blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, escalating tensions over the ceasefire that has halted hostilities for six weeks. Abdelatty condemned the use of aid as a tool of collective punishment.
The initial phase of the ceasefire expired over the weekend. Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s dedication to implementing the agreed-upon ceasefire framework, despite acknowledging the challenges ahead. “Achieving this will be difficult, but with goodwill and political will, it remains possible,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed its acceptance of a U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan and Passover.
Following Tuesday’s summit, foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will convene in Saudi Arabia for urgent discussions on promoting the reconstruction plan on the global stage.
“We will ensure the outcomes of the Arab summit are presented effectively to the international community,” Abdelatty concluded.
