What is Egypt's Reconstruction Plan for Gaza?

Arab countries have endorsed Egypt's reconstruction plan for Gaza, which was presented at the Arab League Summit in Cairo on Tuesday, Mar. 4.

The plan has been presented as an alternative to US President Donald Trump's plan to develop the enclave after relocating the Palestinians to Egypt and Gaza. 

The US President's plan was quickly rejected, therefore, the US had signalled that they are willing to consider the Arab countries' plan for reconstructing Gaza. 

Here are some of the key details of Egypt's plan based on various media reports. 

Egypt's Reconstruction Plan for Gaza

The plan consists of three major stages, which are interim measures, reconstruction and governance.

Interim

The first stage is expected to last about two months, which will include a committee of technocrats, managed by the Palestinian Authority, to clear the rubble from Salah al-Din Street, which is the main north-south highway in the Gaza Strip.

This committee will replace Hamas and will pave the way for the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza. 

After the clearance of the roads, 200,000 temporary housing units will be built to accommodate 1.2 million people. 

During this stage, about 60,000 damaged buildings will be restored, and overall, the reconstruction in this stage will cost three billion dollars. 

Reconstruction

Longer-term reconstruction will take about four to five years and will include the construction of 400,000 permanent homes, Gaza's seaport, and an international airport. 

This stage will also include the restoration of water, waste system, telecommunication services, and electricity. Overall, the construction in this stage will cost $20 billion. 

Governance

In the third phase, the technocrats will oversee governance and the delivery of aid. 

The Steering and Management Council will be established in this phase, which will be a financial fund supporting the interim governing body in Gaza. 

The cost for the developments in this phase is expected to amount to $30 billion.

During the summit, the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said elections could be hosted next year if the conditions allow it. 

Egypt and Jordan have pledged to train the police officers and deploy them to Gaza and they have also called on the UN Security Council to authorize a peacekeeping mission for Gaza until reconstruction is complete. 

Fundraising conferences will be hosted for international donors to provide for the reconstruction and redevelopment of Gaza, the costs of which will amount to $53 billion.

The plan reveals that the money for the reconstruction will be sourced from various international sources including the UN, international financial organisations, and foreign and private sector investments.

Although Hamas approved the reconstruction plan, the US has dismissed the plan, while Israel rejected it.