European Powers Back Arab Plan for Gaza Reconstruction Amidst US Opposition

Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom have voiced their support for an Arab-led initiative aimed at rebuilding Gaza. This plan, estimated to cost $53 billion, was drafted in Cairo and seeks to reconstruct Gaza by 2030, including clearing debris, neutralizing unexploded ordnance, and building housing, an airport, and a seaport. The proposal also involves removing Hamas from power and transferring control to the Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas. The foreign ministries of the four European nations stated that the Cairo plan, if implemented, promises to improve the living conditions for Palestinians in Gaza quickly and sustainably. They emphasized that Hamas should not govern Gaza or pose a future threat to Israel. However, the plan has faced opposition from the United States, with the State Department indicating that it does not meet President Trump's expectations. The White House has also stated that the plan overlooks the dire conditions in Gaza. Israel objects to the presence of both Hamas and the Abbas administration in Gaza.