Arab League endorses Egyptian plan for Gaza to counter Trump's proposal
The Arab League endorsed an Egyptian plan to for the governance and reconstruction of Gaza to counter the widely condemned displacement proposal presented by US President Donald Trump, during an extraordinary summit in Tuesday.
The five year strategy rejects the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, seeks to redevelop the enclave without depopulating it and includes a $53bn reconstruction plan.
It states that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will oversee the management of the reconstruction through a “Gaza Administration Committee” for the first six months.
The committee will be composed of technocrats and non-partisan members, operating under the umbrella of the Ramallah-based Palestinian government.
Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), told Middle East Eye on the sidelines of the summit that the immediate priority for both Palestinians and Arabs was to establish a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and end the devastating Israeli war.
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Sheikh outlined key elements of the post-conflict plan for Gaza.
"First, a complete Israeli withdrawal is essential to restore stability and security," he said, emphasising that it would allow Palestinians to reassert themselves on their land and begin rebuilding.
He also stressed the need for the Palestinian Authority to return to governing Gaza, with a transitional period to stabilise and empower the PA.
A committee of independent Palestinian figures would oversee this process, with the head appointed as a minister and deputy prime minister, he said.
Sheikh further emphasised the importance of relations between Palestinians and Arab states.
"There must be Palestinian-Arab coordination to prevent the displacement of Palestinians from the sector," he added.
Turning to Hamas, Sheikh called for the group to relinquish control of Gaza and lay down its arms.
"Hamas must fully relinquish control in the Gaza Strip. It should be a political party, part of the system," he said.
"Hamas must commit to the PLO and acknowledge a single authority, one law, one weapon, and one law, until it becomes a legitimate part of the political system," he added.
Hamas has previously expressed willingness to hand over the administration of Gaza to a Palestinian-run body. However, the group has rejected the entry of foreign forces, including those from Arab countries.
Hamas leader Sami Abu Zohri told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed the movement was "open to any proposals being discussed among the Palestinian national forces regarding the administration of Gaza and reconstruction".
However, he said Hamas "will not accept trading the resistance’s arms for reconstruction and the entry of aid".
"The resistance’s weapons are a red line and are not up for discussion," he said.
The Egyptian plan does not detail how Hamas would be excluded from power.
It also does not specify whether it will be implemented before or after a permanent peace agreement to end the war.
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