- European nations back a $53 billion Arab-led plan to rebuild Gaza, but Israel and the US reject it.
- The proposal includes a temporary independent administration and international peacekeepers under Palestinian Authority oversight.
- Ceasefire uncertainty grows as Israel blocks aid, while Hamas insists on a full Israeli troop withdrawal.
Leading European nations have thrown their support behind an Arab-backed initiative to rebuild Gaza, a plan estimated to cost $53 billion (£41 billion) while ensuring that Palestinians remain in the territory.
Drafted by Egypt and endorsed by Arab leaders, the proposal has been firmly rejected by Israel and US President Donald Trump, who has instead promoted his own vision of transforming Gaza into a “Middle East Riviera.”
On Saturday, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and Britain described the Arab-backed plan as “realistic” and welcomed its objective of reconstructing Gaza over a five-year period. In a joint statement, they emphasised that the initiative offers a “swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions” for Gazans.
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Under the plan, Gaza would be temporarily governed by a committee of independent experts, with international peacekeepers deployed to oversee security. This committee would manage humanitarian aid and administer Gaza’s affairs under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority.
The proposal was introduced amid rising concerns that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza could collapse following the expiration of its six-week initial phase on March 1. Israel has blocked aid shipments into the territory, applying pressure on Hamas to accept a new US proposal for an extension of the truce, which would involve the release of more hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas has maintained that the next phase of the ceasefire—entailing a full Israeli troop withdrawal—must proceed as originally agreed.
In an effort to extend the truce, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that a negotiating team will travel to Qatar on Monday for further talks. Despite uncertainty over the ceasefire’s next phase, Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanoua has hinted at “positive indicators” ahead of next week’s discussions.
The Arab-backed reconstruction plan serves as an alternative to Trump’s vision, which involves direct US oversight of Gaza and the resettlement of its population. Egypt formally introduced the initiative at an emergency Arab League summit on Tuesday, where it was endorsed by both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. However, the proposal has been dismissed by both the White House and Israel’s foreign ministry, which argue that it fails to account for the current realities in Gaza.
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“Residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance,” Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump’s National Security Council, stated on Tuesday. “President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas.”
The European ministers’ joint statement underscored their commitment to cooperating with Arab states on the initiative, calling it an “important signal.” They also insisted that Hamas “must neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel any more” and affirmed their support for the Palestinian Authority’s leadership and reform agenda.
Since the outbreak of hostilities, nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced. Israel launched its military campaign following Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages. The conflict has left Gaza in ruins, with widespread destruction and an immense humanitarian toll. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, while much of the enclave’s infrastructure has been reduced to rubble by Israeli airstrikes.
