The leaders of Gulf Arab states are anticipated to strategize with their Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts on Friday in an effort to counter President Trump’s controversial proposal to redevelop Gaza underneath U.S. management and displace its Palestinian residents.
The assembly within the Saudi capital, Riyadh, is in preparation for a broader Arab League summit in Egypt on March 4.
Mr. Trump’s suggestion final month that america would possibly take management of Gaza, develop it into the “Riviera of the Center East,” and relocate its Palestinian residents to neighboring nations like Egypt and Jordan was met with astonishment and outrage throughout the Arab world. His aides then reframed it as a problem to leaders of the Center East to give you a greater various.
“All these nations say how a lot they care concerning the Palestinians,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned final week. “If the Arab nations have a greater plan, then that’s nice.”
Now, Arab governments are in rushed consultations to do exactly that.
Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been working collectively to forge an alternate concept for Gaza through which Arab nations would assist fund and oversee reconstruction, whereas conserving the 2 million Palestinian residents in place and preserving the potential for a Palestinian state, in response to diplomats and officers briefed on the efforts.
There have been a variety of audacious plans floated for the day after in Gaza, however none have actually gained traction. The newest one got here from Emirati actual property magnate, Khalaf al-Habtoor, who provided an bold blueprint geared toward rebuilding the enclave inside a “matter of years, not a long time.”
However a key sticking level stays the query of postwar governance in Gaza.
A proposed Egyptian plan would possible embody the formation of a committee of Palestinian technocrats and group leaders, all unaffiliated with Hamas, who may run Gaza after the conflict.
However Israeli leaders have mentioned they’d oppose any postwar plans that may pave the best way to Palestinian sovereignty. Arab leaders insist they’d solely help a proposal that not less than nominally forges a path towards Palestinian statehood.
For any Arab technique on the governance of Gaza, the Arab leaders would need the blessing of the Palestinian Authority, the internationally acknowledged physique that administered Gaza till Hamas wrested management of the territory almost 20 years in the past.
However the authority’s president, Mahmoud Abbas, has appeared cautious of any plan that doesn’t give him full management of Gaza.
Hamas officers have mentioned they’d be keen to cede management over civilian affairs to a different energy however have refused to this point to say they’d disband their army wing, an unacceptable place for each Israel and Mr. Trump.
All six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council are anticipated to attend the assembly in Riyadh on Friday together with Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The Egyptian chief was anticipated in Riyadh on Thursday for preliminary talks with the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
Talking to reporters on Wednesday earlier than his departure for Saudi Arabia, Mr. el-Sisi bolstered the concept Egypt’s proposals would “not contain forcible displacement” of Palestinians.
The Arab plan will concentrate on concepts that maintain Palestinians inside Gaza to counter Mr. Trump name’s for Egypt and Jordan to take them in, an concept Arab nations have all rejected. Many within the Arab world would take into account any compelled displacement of Palestinians from Gaza an ethnic cleaning and a conflict crime in addition to a demise knell for any future Palestinian state.
Some nations, like Jordan and Egypt, may also be involved that elevated Palestinian migration may create financial and political disruptions at house.
Talking at an funding discussion board hosted by Saudi Arabia in Miami on Thursday, Mr. Trump’s envoy to the Center East, Steve Witkoff, mentioned the president’s plan for Gaza was not about evicting Palestinians, however about shaking up present considering and enhancing prospects for the Palestinian folks.
“He’s engendered this dialogue all through all the Arab world,” Mr. Witkoff mentioned. “You’ve obtained several types of options than earlier than he talked about this.”
Any plan for Gaza will even have to bear in mind the necessity to forestall future assaults on Israel. There are additionally the questions of who would pay for reconstruction and whether or not Arab nations would ship forces to maintain Gaza secure.
Whereas Egypt has but to launch full particulars of its proposal, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly mentioned on Wednesday that Cairo is engaged on a complete plan for Gaza’s reconstruction which envisions restoring the enclave inside three years, in response to Ahram On-line, an Egyptian state-run information outlet.
Riyadh has been taking part in a essential diplomatic position this week, internet hosting U.S., Russian and Arab officers for high-stakes talks on the wars in each Ukraine and Gaza.
Vivian Yee contributed reporting from Cairo, Egypt.
