Egypt has put forward a highly anticipated proposal aimed at countering former U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, with the goal of diminishing Hamas’s influence and establishing temporary governance led by Western and Arab entities, according to a draft document reviewed by Reuters. The initiative is set to be introduced during an Arab summit in Cairo on March 4.
At its core, the plan suggests the creation of a “Governance Assistance Mission” to take over administration in Gaza for an indefinite period. This body would be tasked with overseeing reconstruction efforts and ensuring humanitarian aid distribution.
According to the draft, significant international funding for rebuilding Gaza will not be provided as long as Hamas remains the dominant and armed political authority in the region. Security operations would be managed by a “steering board” composed of Arab nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the U.S., the U.K., and European Union member states.
A Palestinian Authority (PA) official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, affirmed that Gaza is under the PA’s jurisdiction. The PA and Egypt have reportedly agreed to form a Palestinian-run expert committee to coordinate governance efforts with Ramallah.
“We have reached an agreement with the Egyptians on a team of Palestinian specialists who will assist the PA in managing Gaza for six months. This committee is composed of Palestinian experts and operates under the PA’s oversight, without being accountable to any foreign authorities,” the official stated. However, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters he was unaware of any such plan and firmly opposed external intervention.
“The future of Gaza must be determined solely by Palestinians. Hamas rejects any attempts to impose external projects, foreign administration, or any foreign military presence in the Gaza Strip,” Abu Zuhri asserted. Last month, Al-Araby al-Jadeed reported that Egypt’s alternative proposal to Trump’s Gaza plan would involve relocating parts of the Palestinian population and launching a long-term reconstruction initiative.
The report also mentioned that while Hamas and other armed factions would not be fully disarmed, restrictions and controls would be placed on their weapons stockpiles to address the concerns of donors and financial backers. However, armed groups remain unwilling to disarm before the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Additionally, the plan outlines steps toward achieving a two-state solution. In February, Trump had announced that Washington sought to take control of Gaza and relocate its residents, suggesting that international agencies would oversee its reconstruction. However, he later softened his stance on February 21, stating that while he believed in the viability of his idea, he would not enforce it, opting instead to “sit back and recommend it.”
Despite these developments, Arab nations remain resolute in rejecting any plans that involve the forced displacement of Palestinians in post-war Gaza reconstruction efforts.
