The emergency Arab Summit on Gaza reconstruction held in Cairo yesterday was a rare moment of unity in the region. The summit was convened in response to the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, in order to answer the question of the “day after" the bombs stop falling on Gaza.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's proposal for Gaza's reconstruction was the centrepiece of the discussions and offered a possibly tangible roadmap for the future. Although the plan represents an important achievement, its success will depend on navigating a minefield of geopolitical challenges, especially Israel's intransigence and the need for US support.
The plan has already ticked several important boxes, many of which represent defensive victories against dangerous alternatives. It provides a practical and realistic framework that the international community can engage with. Unlike the vague or fragmented visions offered by other actors, including Israel and the United States, this plan actually offers a clear vision for post-war Gaza. It addresses critical issues such as governance, security and reconstruction, and ensures that the Palestinian people remain on their land while rebuilding their lives. This is a major plus, as it directly counters the Trump-Netanyahu agenda of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing, a plan that sought to resettle Palestinians outside Gaza and strip them of their land and legitimate rights.
This position wasn't just rhetorical; the plan outlines a concrete vision for reconstruction, overseen by a Palestinian committee in collaboration with international actors, particularly Egypt. What does this mean? It ensures that Palestinians retain agency over their future while benefiting from international support. It also sends a clear message to the United States that Gaza can be rebuilt without displacing its population. In addition, the level of Arab unity demonstrated at the summit also strengthens the Arab position in negotiations with the US and Israel.
A very important aspect is that while the plan excludes Hamas from governance and reconstruction efforts, it does not mandate the group's disarmament. Instead, it links discussions on Hamas's military status to the broader goal of establishing a Palestinian state which is a pragmatic approach that already aligns with Hamas's own position....
Read the full op-ed at Middle East Monitor