Egyptian-led Arab nations' plan for Gaza gaining ground
Arab nations presented the Arab League-endorsed Gaza reconstruction plan on Wednesday to the United States' Middle East special envoy, spurring hopes that Washington may now treat it as the foundation for rebuilding the Palestinian enclave, as opposed to an earlier widely criticized proposal from the White House.
Speculation that the Egyptian-led plan could gain ground is being fanned by reports suggesting that US President Donald Trump could be backpedaling on his controversial proposal to depopulate Gaza and then rebuild through US auspices.
On Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee met with visiting US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
According to a joint communique published by Qatar's foreign ministry, the Arab ministers agreed with the US envoy to "continue consultations and coordination on this plan as a basis for the reconstruction efforts".
The Gaza reconstruction plan, approved by the Arab League during a summit in Cairo on March 4, is estimated to cost $53 billion. The plan counters Trump, who suggested redeveloping Gaza through a US takeover and relocating the enclave's residents to Egypt and Jordan.
At Wednesday's meeting, the Arab ministers emphasized the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, calling for genuine efforts to achieve a "just and comprehensive peace" based on the two-state solution.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said "nobody was expelling any Palestinians" from Gaza.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem welcomed Trump's new stance.
"If US President Trump's statements represent a retreat from any idea of displacing the people of the Gaza Strip, they are welcomed," Qassem said, adding that this position needs to be reinforced by obligating the Israeli side to implement the terms of the ceasefire agreements.
A statement posted on the X account of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tamim Khallaf on Thursday said Egypt "expresses its appreciation for the statements" made by Trump.
"Egypt affirms that this position reflects an understanding of the importance of avoiding further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Strip and the necessity of working toward finding just and sustainable solutions to the Palestinian issue," the statement said.
"Egypt views President Trump's initiative to end international conflicts and achieve peace, including the Middle East, as a practical framework that can be built upon and jointly pursued to achieve these goals taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people," it added.
Earlier, Israeli media reported that the US was pushing for a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 hostages. If unsuccessful, Washington could only work to free US hostages, the Times of Israel reported.
Farhan Mujahid Chak, a visiting faculty at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, told China Daily that the Arab reconstruction plan has "the unique signature of all the Arab States" and the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
"There is complete unity behind this reconstruction plan so it becomes difficult for the US to dismiss it readily," said Chak.
The Arab plan is "presenting serious problems for the end game of the extremist Israeli government," he said, adding that it appears that the Trump administration may be rethinking its radical proposal in relation to Gaza, as it seeks "to appease some of the other partners in the region".
Chak also noted that the rift between the Israeli government and President Trump "seems to be widening".
jan@chinadailyapac.com
