Egypt Unveils $53 Billion Gaza Reconstruction Plan Ahead of Cairo Summit

Cairo, March 4, 2025 – Egypt has proposed a $53 billion, five-year plan to rebuild Gaza, focusing on emergency relief, infrastructure restoration, and long-term economic development, according to a draft document reviewed by AFP. Set to be discussed at Tuesday’s extraordinary Arab League summit in Cairo, the initiative counters U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to control and depopulate Gaza, aiming instead for a sustainable Palestinian future.

Two-Phase Reconstruction Strategy

The Egyptian blueprint outlines a comprehensive approach in two main phases, supported by international oversight to ensure transparency and funding sustainability.

• Rapid Response Phase (6 Months)
  This initial stage, with a $3 billion budget, prioritizes clearing debris, removing mines, and providing temporary housing. It includes:
• Establishing seven sites to house over 1.5 million people in prefabricated units, each accommodating an average of six residents.
• Repairing 60,000 partially damaged homes to shelter 360,000 individuals.
  This phase addresses Gaza’s immediate humanitarian crisis, where over 160,000 have perished or been injured, and 14,000 are missing since October 2023.
• Reconstruction Phase (4.5 Years)
  Spanning two stages until 2030 with a total budget of $50 billion, this phase focuses on rebuilding and economic revival:
• Stage 1 (Until 2027, $20 Billion): Reconstructing critical infrastructure like roads, utility networks, and public facilities. It includes building 200,000 permanent housing units for 1.6 million people and reclaiming 810,000 hectares for agriculture.
• Stage 2 (Until 2030, $30 Billion): Completing infrastructure projects, establishing industrial zones, a fishing port, a commercial port, and an airport to drive economic growth.

Funding and Oversight

To finance this ambitious plan, Egypt proposes an internationally supervised fund ensuring “efficiency, sustainability, transparency, and necessary oversight.” The plan calls for a high-level ministerial conference in Cairo, bringing together donor countries, international and regional financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society to mobilize resources. This addresses the UN’s estimate of over $50 billion needed for Gaza’s recovery, a challenge Egypt seeks to tackle collectively.

Governance and Security in Gaza

The draft introduces a transitional governance structure:

• A Gaza Administrative Committee, comprising independent technocrats and nonpartisan figures under the Palestinian Authority’s oversight, will manage the territory for six months. This is seen as a stepping stone toward full Palestinian Authority control from the occupied West Bank.
• Egypt and Jordan will train Palestinian security forces to maintain order, preparing them for long-term responsibility.
• The plan hints at an international presence, potentially via a UN Security Council resolution for peacekeeping or protective forces in Gaza and the West Bank, aligning with a broader timeline for a Palestinian state and institutional reform.

It acknowledges the challenge of Gaza’s armed factions, particularly Hamas, stating that a “credible political process” restoring Palestinian rights and offering a future outlook could resolve this.

Why It Matters

This plan directly counters Trump’s vision of U.S. control and Palestinian displacement, which Arab states, including Egypt and Jordan, have fiercely rejected. Posts on X from March 2023-2025 highlight Arab unity, with users like @ArabVoice calling it a “humanitarian lifeline” against Trump’s “colonial scheme” ([X posts, March 3, 2025]). Egypt’s leadership aims to preserve Gaza’s Palestinian identity while addressing its devastation, but funding and Hamas’s stance remain hurdles.

What’s Next?

Tuesday’s Cairo summit will determine the plan’s fate, with Arab leaders deciding on its adoption. Success hinges on securing international funds and navigating Gaza’s political landscape, especially Hamas’s potential resistance.