Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced plans to rebuild Gaza without displacing Palestinians, countering US President Donald Trump’s proposal to depopulate the territory for American control.
According to Egypt’s state-run Al-Ahram newspaper, the plan involves creating “secure areas” within Gaza where Palestinians can live temporarily while Egyptian and international companies rebuild infrastructure. Egyptian officials are discussing the proposal with European diplomats as well as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. They are also exploring funding options, including a potential international conference on Gaza reconstruction.
The proposal follows international criticism of Trump’s idea to relocate Gaza’s two million Palestinians and transform the area into a “Riviera of the Middle East” without allowing them to return. Palestinians have rejected any plan to leave their homeland, and Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia have opposed taking in Gaza’s population.
Rights groups have condemned Trump’s proposal as ethnic cleansing, and European nations have largely criticised it, although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support.
via Euronews