European leaders have given their endorsement to an Arab-backed plan to rebuild Gaza, estimated at $53 billion (PS41 billion). Egypt put forward this proposal that has garnered support from Arab leaders but which Israel and U.S. President Donald Trump both oppose; their own vision for Gaza envisioned by Trump, depicting it as an “Middle East Riviera.”
On Saturday, foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy and Britain lauded a plan for rapid and sustainable development to improve Gaza’s dire living conditions. According to this proposal, Gaza would temporarily be administered by an independent committee overseeing humanitarian aid as well as managing its affairs under supervision from the Palestinian Authority.
President Trump’s vision, however, advocates for U.S. control over Gaza and resettlement of its population. When presented at an emergency Arab League summit, both Hamas and PA officials welcomed it with open arms; however, both White House and Israel’s foreign ministry rejected it citing that it failed to address realities in Gaza; Brian Hughes from Trump’s National Security Council stated: ‘Residents cannot humanely live in an environment contaminated with debris and unexploded ordnance”.
The four European nations reaffirmed their support of the Arab initiative and highlighted the significance of Palestinian Authority reform agenda and Hamas governing Gaza as threats to Israel.
As tensions between Israel and Hamas continue, concern that their fragile ceasefire in Gaza could unravel has increased significantly since the initial six-week phase ended on March 1. Israel has cut aid to Gaza as part of an attempt to pressure Hamas into accepting an alternative U.S. proposal involving temporarily extending the truce for hostages held there to be released in exchange for temporary extension.
Since hostilities began in October 2023, over 2.3 million residents in Gaza have been uprooted from their homes. Israel responded to Hamas’s deadly attack that killed approximately 1,200 and resulted in 251 abductions; since then Israel’s military operations have caused extensive destruction with 48,000 Palestinian deaths reported due to ongoing military actions according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
