from the News Desk at The Cradle, February 20, 1015
The plan does not include a full disarmament of the Palestinian resistance, and is likely to face backlash from Israel
Egypt has drafted a proposal for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which serves as an alternative to US President Donald Trump’s scheme to take over the enclave and expel its population, according to sources cited by Al-Araby al-Jadeed.
According to the report, the plan is set to be presented to Trump after it is discussed and approved in two upcoming summits in Riyadh and Cairo.
“There are differences between the influential Arab powers regarding the general principles … of this plan,” the sources say.
The plan is made up of two stages. The first is reconstruction without a displacement of Palestinians from their land, and the second is restricting the flow of weaponry throughout Gaza.
The first stage “extends over 10 years and includes large-scale reconstruction operations, including infrastructure and housing, in addition to preliminary measures for a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue,” according to an Egyptian diplomat.
The plan includes “redistribution” of the population to reduce density and provide “safe spaces in areas close to the settlements of the Gaza envelope.”
The resistance’s weapons will be dealt with in a way so that arrangements are made to impose “restrictions and controls” on weapons depots without complete disarmament, taking into account the concerns and demands of financiers and donors, but also taking into account the refusal of armed factions to give up weapons until a Palestinian state is formed.
Under the plan, specific locations would be established for weapons storage under joint supervision by Egyptian and European forces. An Arab committee would also be formed to oversee violations and resolve disputes.
“An American security company will continue to operate in the strip, but its tasks will be limited to three main locations at the points of contact between Gaza and the settlements. Its role will be limited to ensuring that the areas to be reconstructed are free of tunnels or any military infrastructure,” the report adds.
The second stage of the deal would establish a time frame for the implementation of a two-state solution.
One of the sources says that a Gulf state held talks with US and Israeli officials and criticized the Egyptian plan – particularly its rejection of encouraging migration of Palestinians out of Gaza.
“Cairo is following a dual policy in its dealings with Hamas, as it maintains the presence of resistance factions in Gaza in a way that serves Egyptian interests, which keeps them a pressure factor on Israel and limits investment opportunities in the region,” the source said.
The plan is reportedly almost ready to be presented but faces obstacles due to Israel’s objections and its insistence on supervising the reconstruction process.
Egypt hopes to garner enough Arab support to convince the US to pressure Israel into accepting the proposal.
A summit will be held in the Saudi capital this month to discuss post-war Gaza and the Egyptian plan.
*Featured Image; (Photo credit: AP)