The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several European powers have thrown their weight behind an Arab-led initiative to rebuild Gaza, following 15 months of relentless Israeli bombardment that has devastated the besieged enclave.
In a joint statement on Saturday, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom expressed support for the plan, which outlines a $53 billion roadmap to reconstruct Gaza.
“The plan presents a pragmatic approach to rebuilding Gaza and offers—if executed—a swift and sustainable improvement in the dire humanitarian conditions of Palestinians in the territory,” the statement read. However, the ministers also stressed that Hamas “must neither govern Gaza nor pose a threat to Israel” and reaffirmed their backing for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to take a leading role in Gaza’s administration under a reform agenda.
A Unified Arab Push
The initiative, drafted by Egypt and endorsed at an Arab League summit in Cairo earlier this month, was formally adopted by the 57-member OIC during an emergency meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. The bloc called on the international community and financial institutions to urgently mobilize resources to implement the plan.
The Arab-led proposal stands in stark contrast to an alternative floated by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which suggested depopulating Gaza under U.S. oversight—an idea widely condemned as ethnic cleansing.
The Arab plan is structured in three phases: immediate relief and stabilization, infrastructure rebuilding, and long-term governance reform. The initial phase is expected to last six months, while the latter two stages would unfold over four to five years.
The overarching goal is to rehabilitate Gaza, restore security, and reestablish Palestinian Authority governance after Israel’s military campaign has left much of the territory in ruins.
Resistance from Washington and Tel Aviv
Despite its broad Arab and European backing, the plan has faced rejection from the United States and Israel.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the initiative “does not meet expectations” set by Washington, while Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, described it as “a good-faith first step from the Egyptians.”
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein dismissed the proposal as outdated, arguing that it “fails to acknowledge the realities on the ground” and does not mention Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that precipitated the war.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to advocate for an alternative U.S.-backed plan that would see Gaza’s population relocated—a move denounced by Arab states as a violation of international law.
Egypt’s Commitment to Gaza’s Future
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hailed Arab consensus on the reconstruction plan, emphasizing that it ensures Palestinians remain on their land without displacement. In a post-summit statement, he called for a comprehensive and just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and reiterated Egypt’s commitment to hosting an international conference on Gaza’s reconstruction in collaboration with the United Nations.
The 112-page draft of the plan envisions a total reconstruction of Gaza by 2030. It proposes clearing over 50 million tons of rubble left by Israeli airstrikes, setting up temporary housing, and developing sustainable urban infrastructure. The initiative also includes the construction of an airport, a fishing port, and a commercial harbor—projects previously promised under the Oslo Accords but never realized due to stalled peace talks.
A Political Tug-of-War Over Gaza’s Future
Under the plan, Hamas would relinquish control to an interim technocratic administration until the Palestinian Authority is reformed and prepared to govern. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attended the Cairo summit, signaling his willingness to play a role in Gaza’s future governance.
However, Israel remains adamant that the PA should have no role in Gaza, while the U.S. has set Hamas’ full disarmament as a precondition for any long-term arrangement. Hamas, on the other hand, has expressed willingness to cede administrative control to a unified Palestinian body but insists that disarmament is contingent on the establishment of a recognized Palestinian state.
A War of Attrition
The ongoing Israeli offensive, which began after Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and led to the capture of 251 hostages, has now resulted in the deaths of more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry reports that women and children account for more than half of the casualties, while Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants—figures that remain unverified.
The war has left nearly 90% of Gaza’s population displaced, with many forced into makeshift camps or overcrowded shelters. The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate as Israel restricts the entry of essential supplies, leading to severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.
Meanwhile, Arab and international actors continue to push for a diplomatic solution. The Arab League has called on the UN Security Council to deploy an international peacekeeping force in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, arguing that “peace remains the Arabs’ strategic choice.”
As the reconstruction plan gains momentum, it remains to be seen whether international powers will rally behind the Arab proposal or continue to pursue alternative solutions that many see as further entrenching the conflict.
