(JNS) Arab leaders convened in Saudi Arabia on Friday to develop a recovery plan for Gaza, in a bid to counter U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to turn the war-torn coastal enclave into a Middle Eastern “Riviera” under American control.
The Trump proposal to relocate Gaza’s 2.4 million residents while the Strip is rebuilt and deradicalized has met with unified Arab opposition. However, debate persists over Gaza’s future governance and reconstruction funding.
From left, leaders of Bahrain (CP), Qatar, UAE, Saudi, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt plus Jordanian CP and UAE NSA, met in Riyadh to discuss "Egyptian Plan for Gaza."
Plan not out yet, will likely be unveiled at Cairo Arab League Emergency Summit on March 4. Plan expected to promise… pic.twitter.com/AhZUb6T4aa
— Hussain Abdul-Hussain (@hahussain) February 21, 2025
The Riyadh summit, attended by Egypt, Jordan and Gulf Cooperation Council members, focused on countering Trump’s plan and discussing Egypt’s alternative proposal, France 24 and AFP reported.
Cairo’s proposal outlines a three-phase reconstruction over 3–5 years: initial debris removal, infrastructure rebuilding through international support and long-term urban planning aligned with a two-state solution.
A major hurdle remains financing: An estimated $53 billion is needed for Gaza’s recovery. The proposed plan envisions an administration for Gaza under the Palestinian Authority, excluding factional influence, with indications that Hamas may step back from political leadership.
The summit will influence discussions at the upcoming Arab League emergency meeting in Egypt on March 4.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Feb. 17 his rejection of a role for the P.A. in post-war Gaza, at the same time reaffirming his support for Trump’s proposal for the coastal enclave.
“Just as I have committed to, on the day after the war in Gaza there will be neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. I am committed to U.S. President Trump’s plan for the creation of a different Gaza,” the premier said.
It marked his second dismissal that day of unconfirmed reports by Arabic media that Hamas had agreed to transfer control of Gaza to the P.A. as part of negotiations for a “permanent ceasefire.”
