Arab Leaders Meet To Endorse Counterproposal To Trump’s Gaza Plan

CAIRO (AP) — Arab leaders assembly in Cairo on Tuesday are set to endorse a counterproposal to U.S. President Donald Trump’s name for the Gaza Strip to be depopulated and reworked right into a seashore vacation spot, even because the continuation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is unsure.

The summit hosted by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi included the emir of Qatar, the vice chairman of the United Arab Emirates and the international minister of Saudi Arabia — nations whose help is essential for any postwar plan. United Nations’ Secretary-Common António Guterres additionally attended.

Israel has embraced what it says is another U.S. proposal for the ceasefire itself and the discharge of hostages taken in Hamas’ assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the battle. It has blocked the entry of meals, gasoline, medication and different provides to Gaza to attempt to get Hamas to just accept the brand new proposal and has warned of extra penalties, elevating fears of a return to preventing.

The suspension of support drew widespread criticism, with human rights teams saying that it violated Israel’s obligations as an occupying energy beneath worldwide legislation.

The brand new plan would require Hamas to launch half its remaining hostages — the militant group’s principal bargaining chip — in change for a ceasefire extension and a promise to barter an enduring truce. Israel made no point out of releasing extra Palestinian prisoners — a key part of the primary section.

Egypt printed a 112-page draft of the $53 billion plan for rebuilding Gaza by 2030 with out eradicating its inhabitants. The primary section requires beginning the removing of unexploded ordnance and clearing the greater than 50 million tons of rubble left by Israel’s bombardment and army offensives.

A whole bunch of hundreds of momentary housing items could be arrange the place Gaza’s inhabitants may reside whereas reconstruction takes place. The rubble could be recycled, and a few of it will be used as infill to create expanded lands on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast.

Within the following years, the plan envisages utterly reshaping the strip, constructing “sustainable, green and walkable” housing and concrete areas, with renewable vitality. It renovates agricultural lands and creates industrial zones and enormous park areas.

It additionally requires the opening of an airport, a fishing port and a industrial port. The Oslo peace accords within the Nineties referred to as for the opening of an airport and a industrial port in Gaza, however the initiatives withered because the peace course of collapsed.

Underneath the plan, Hamas would cede energy to an interim administration of political independents till a reformed Palestinian Authority can assume management.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Western-backed authority and an opponent of Hamas, was attending the summit.

Israel has dominated out any position for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and, together with the US, has demanded Hamas’ disarmament. Hamas, which doesn’t settle for Israel’s existence, has stated it’s keen to cede energy in Gaza to different Palestinians, however received’t hand over its arms till there’s a Palestinian state.

An early draft of the assertion endorsing the plan referred to as for a “permanent and just solution” for the Palestinian trigger, and for the U.N. Safety Council to deploy worldwide peacekeepers in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution. The point out of peacekeepers was dropped from a later draft.

Israel has vowed to take care of open-ended safety management over each territories, which it captured within the 1967 Mideast battle and which Palestinians need for his or her future state. Israel’s authorities and most of its political class are against Palestinian statehood.

Trump shocked the area final month when he urged that Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians be resettled in different nations. He stated that the US would take possession of the territory and redevelop it right into a Center Japanese “Riviera.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embraced the proposal, which was roundly rejected by Palestinians, Arab nations and human rights consultants, who stated it will doubtless violate worldwide legislation.

Trump has urged that Egypt and Jordan, two shut American allies, may absorb giant numbers of Palestinian refugees from Gaza. Each nations have adamantly rejected any such plan.

Assembly with Trump on the White Home final month, King Abdullah II of Jordan supplied to absorb round 2,000 youngsters for medical remedy. The primary batch of round 30 youngsters left Gaza for Jordan on Tuesday, in response to Nasser Hospital within the southern Gaza metropolis of Khan Younis. The kids are being accompanied by as much as two relations.

Jordan stated that the kids are amputees and can return to Gaza when their remedy is full. The dominion has additionally arrange discipline hospitals in Gaza and delivered support by air and land.

The battle started with Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on Israel, wherein Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, and took 251 individuals hostage. Hamas-led militants are nonetheless holding 59 hostages, 35 of whom are believed to be lifeless.

A lot of the relaxation have been launched in ceasefire agreements. Israel has rescued eight dwelling hostages and recovered the stays of dozens extra.

Israel’s 15-month offensive killed greater than 48,000 Palestinians, in response to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It doesn’t say what number of have been fighters, however the ministry says ladies and youngsters made up greater than half the lifeless. Israel says it killed over 17,000 militants, with out offering proof.

The offensive destroyed giant areas of Gaza, together with a lot of its well being system and different infrastructure. At its top, the battle displaced abou 90% of the inhabitants, largely throughout the territory, the place tons of of hundreds packed into squalid tent camps and faculties repurposed as shelters.

Jahjouh reported from Khan Younis, Gaza Strip.