The U.S. government rejected a long-awaited plan to rebuild Gaza recognized by Arab leaders, saying President Trump stands under his vision, which includes expelling Palestinian residents of the territory and transforming it into a US-owned “Riviera.”
The post-war Gaza Strip plan was proposed by Egypt and required Hamas to cede power to the Provisional Government until the reformed Palestinian authorities could control control, which would leave about two million Palestinians remaining, contrary to Trump’s proposal.
Israel excludes any role of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza.
The $53 billion proposal from the Arab countries calls for reconstruction of Gaza by 2030. The first phase calls for the start of dismantling unexploded ordnance and the removal of more than 50 million tons of rubble left by Israeli bombing and military criminals.
“The current proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable, and residents cannot live humanely on territory covered by debris and unexploded arsenals,” National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement Tuesday night.
“President Trump stands on his vision to demand the release of Gaza from Hamas. We look forward to further negotiations that bring peace and prosperity to the region.”
The ceasefire currently in Gaza has been in doubt since January after it expired on Saturday. Israel accepted what it said was another U.S. proposal to expand the cessation of hostilities and released hostages in Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war.
Israel blocked the entry of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza to oppress Hamas to accept the agreement and warned of other consequences, which raised concerns about returning to the fight.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi said at the summit announcing Gaza’s future plans that there would be no “real peace” without the establishment of the Palestinian state.
Israel vowed to maintain open security controls on Gaza and the West Bank and to occupy the war in the mid-1967, as well as the states that the Palestinians hoped for them to come.
