Israel Egypt: Reconstruction Gaza's best remedy against displacement

Egypt considers the rapid reconstruction of the Gaza Strip to be the best means of preventing the expulsion of Palestinians from the coastal area.

Keystone-SDA

13.02.2025, 10:36

SDA

"At the heart of the (Israeli) aggression lies an attempt to forcibly expel the Palestinians. Therefore, the ceasefire must be followed by reconstruction to ensure that the Palestinians can remain on their land," Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamed Higasi told the state news website "Ahram". "Immediate action" is necessary.

The government in Cairo has announced that it will soon present a plan for the reconstruction of the area, large parts of which have been destroyed. It rejects the resettlement of Palestinians to their country, as proposed by US President Donald Trump, as do Jordan and other Arab states in the region.

According to Higasi, the plan is primarily concerned with the reconstruction of important infrastructure such as roads, public buildings and facilities and networks for the supply of electricity and water. "The plan also aims to revitalize the local economy, help Gaza recover from this devastating aggression and restore minimum standards of living conditions before the transition to a full reconstruction phase."

Tens of billions of dollars needed for reconstruction

The Al-Arabiya news channel reported on alleged details of the Egyptian proposal, citing unnamed sources. According to the proposal, buildings for the so-called "safe accommodation" of people are to be built in Gaza within 18 months and so-called "security zones" within six months. 24 international companies are to be involved in the removal of rubble and reconstruction efforts, the broadcaster reported, citing anonymous sources. There was initially no confirmation of this from the Egyptian side.

According to the latest UN estimates, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip could cost around 53 billion US dollars, including 20 billion in the first three years alone. It remains to be seen who will pay for the reconstruction.