Key takeaways from Egypt’s plan for Gaza

Text of the proposal addresses reconstruction efforts and political transition

Support for the Palestinian territories is seen in Cairo, where the summit on Gaza's future was taking place. Reuters

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Egypt’s plan for Gaza, a proposal discussed by Arab leaders at a summit in Cairo on Tuesday, outlines a five-year reconstruction process alongside a significant political transition in the governing of the Palestinian territory.

Here are the main takeaways of the draft plan seen by The National:

Phases of reconstruction

1. Immediate Response & Early Recovery (first six months)

• Debris removal and demining: Clearing unexploded ordnance and war debris to enable rebuilding efforts.
• Temporary housing: Establishment of seven temporary housing sites across Gaza to accommodate displaced people.
• Infrastructure repairs: Restoration of essential services like water, electricity, and transport networks.
• Emergency humanitarian aid: Provision of food, health care and emergency relief to the affected population.

2. First phase of reconstruction (two years, $20 billion)

• Housing restoration: Rehabilitation of 60,000 partially destroyed housing units.
• Permanent housing construction: Building 200,000 new housing units to accommodate 1.6 million people.
• Public services: Rebuilding hospitals, schools and essential infrastructure (water, sewerage, electricity).
• Agricultural and industrial recovery: Restoring 20,000 hectares of farmland and establishing key economic facilities.

3. Second phase of reconstruction (two and a half years, $30 billion)

• Expanding infrastructure: Continued construction of roads, public buildings and utilities.
• Finalising permanent housing: Bringing total completed units to 460,000 to house three million people.
• Economic development: Establishment of industrial zones, a fishing port, a commercial seaport and a new airport.
• Tourism and trade development: Enhancing regional economic integration through new trade agreements and tourism facilities.

Major political aspects

1. Political framework and governing

• Support for a two-state solution: The plan aligns with international law and aims to preserve the vision of an independent Palestinian state.
• Preserving Palestinian sovereignty: Ensuring reconstruction efforts lead to neither displacement nor loss of Palestinian land rights.
• Formation of a transitional governing committee: A temporary, technocratic body to oversee Gaza’s administration until the Palestinian Authority assumes full control.

2. Security and stability

• Maintaining the ceasefire: Co-ordination with Egypt, Qatar and the US to sustain the truce and prevent further conflict.
• Police and security force training: Egypt and Jordan will assist in training a professional Palestinian police force.
• International peacekeeping possibilities: Exploration of UN or multinational forces to maintain long-term stability.

3. International co-ordination and funding

• Establishing a reconstruction fund: A supervised international trust fund to ensure transparent and sustainable financing.
• Multilateral support: Engagement with donor countries, international organisations and development banks.
• Investment in Gaza’s economy: Encouraging private-sector involvement and foreign direct investment for long-term growth.
• International conference: Egypt will host a high-level ministerial conference in Cairo to mobilise global financial support.

4. Regional and diplomatic considerations

• Gaza with the West Bank: Avoiding any political or territorial separation that could undermine the future Palestinian state.
• Negotiations for long-term peace: Promotion of direct Israeli-Palestinian talks for a final peace agreement.
• Halting unilateral action: Calls for an end to Israeli settlement expansion and demolition in Palestinian territories.

The Transitional Governance Committee

1. Composition and leadership:

• Independent, non-partisan and technocratic, composed of Palestinian experts, administrators and professionals.
• Functions under the umbrella of the Palestinian government to ensure legitimacy.
• Egypt and international partners provide advisory and logistical support without direct interference.

2. Mandate and responsibilities:

• Managing reconstruction projects: Overseeing infrastructure rebuilding, housing programmes and economic recovery efforts.
• Ensuring public service delivery: Co-ordinating health care, education, electricity, water and sanitation services.
• Financial oversight: Managing the international reconstruction fund to ensure transparent allocation of aid.
• Security and law enforcement: Training and deploying a professional Palestinian security force with support from Egypt and Jordan.

3. Transition to the Palestinian Authority

• The committee will be temporary (six to 12 months) and gradually hand over control to the PA.
• The goal is institutional capacity-building to ensure the PA can govern effectively without factional divisions.
• A phased reintegration process will enable a smooth transition to full PA administrative and security control.

4. Preventing political fragmentation

• Preventing political or administrative isolation of Gaza from the occupied West Bank.
• Rejecting any separate governance models for Gaza, ensuring unity under a single Palestinian leadership.