European Support for Egyptian Plan to Rebuild Gaza Without…

Britain’s Foreign Secretary and European counterparts support a $53bn Egyptian plan for Gaza reconstruction, aimed at avoiding displacements. The initiative is endorsed while rejecting alternative U.S. proposals. The plan proposes an independent Palestinian committee to govern Gaza, emphasizing humanitarian aid and Palestinian Authority oversight amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy, joined by European counterparts from France, Germany, and Italy, has publicly endorsed a $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza, which has been formulated by Egypt and supported by Arab leaders. This initiative aims to rebuild Gaza without displacing the Palestinian population; however, it has faced rejection from both Israel and the United States.

The Egyptian plan, if implemented, is viewed by the European ministers as a pragmatic approach to improving the dire living conditions in Gaza. In their joint statement, they acknowledged the Arab initiative’s significance and expressed commitment to collaborate with it, endorsing the necessity for an independent Palestinian administrative committee to govern Gaza temporarily, ensuring aid oversight and management of local affairs under Palestinian Authority supervision.

This proposal emphasizes that Hamas should not govern Gaza nor pose a threat to Israel, underscoring support for the Palestinian Authority and its reform agenda. Concurrently, foreign ministers from Muslim nations have dismissed President Trump’s controversial proposal, which includes plans to displace Palestinians as tantamount to ethnic cleansing, a violation of international law.

During a special session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, the ministers reiterated their support for the Egyptian plan while expressing strong opposition to any measures that would result in displacing the Palestinian populace. This gathering comes amidst uncertainty surrounding a seven-week ceasefire, with the situation in Gaza remaining precarious following ongoing negotiations regarding hostage releases and a more permanent truce.

In summary, European foreign ministers have endorsed an Egyptian-led reconstruction plan for Gaza, emphasizing its potential to improve living conditions without displacing Palestinians, while rejecting alternative proposals, including those from the United States. The ongoing ceasefire negotiations and discussions regarding Hamas’s governance role indicate a complex and evolving conflict that underscores the need for collaborative international efforts in resolving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Original Source: news.sky.com