France, UK, Germany & Italy Back Arab Plan For Gaza Over Trump’s Vision/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ France, Germany, Italy, and the UK have voiced strong support for an Arab-backed $53 billion plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its Palestinian population. The proposal, led by Egypt and endorsed by Arab leaders, offers a phased reconstruction approach over five years. European leaders emphasized its realistic path to recovery, contrasting with U.S. President Donald Trump’s rejected proposal to redevelop Gaza without its current residents. The plan also calls for Hamas’ removal and a reformed Palestinian Authority to govern the enclave.
European Nations Support Arab Gaza Plan: Quick Look
- Europe Endorses Arab-Led Rebuilding Plan
- France, Germany, Italy, and the UK support $53B Gaza reconstruction.
- Plan focuses on housing, infrastructure, and economic development.
- Three-Phase Approach Over Five Years
- Phase 1 (six months): Debris removal, de-mining, temporary housing.
- Phase 2 (two years): 200,000 homes built.
- Phase 3 (by 2030): Industrial zones, airport, hotels, and parks.
- Political Framework for Governance
- Palestinian Authority (PA) proposed to govern Gaza under reforms.
- Hamas must be removed from power, per European ministers.
- US Rejects Arab Plan
- Trump administration dismisses the proposal, citing Gaza as “uninhabitable”.
- White House continues to push for its controversial redevelopment plan.
- What’s Next?
- Arab and European leaders seek wider international backing.
- Reconstruction efforts hinge on securing diplomatic consensus.
France, UK, Germany & Italy Back Arab Plan For Gaza Over Trump’s Vision
Deep Look: European Leaders Back Arab Gaza Plan Over Trump’s Vision
Europe Supports $53B Arab-Backed Gaza Reconstruction
Four major European powers—France, Germany, Italy, and the UK—have thrown their support behind an Arab-led $53 billion proposal to rebuild Gaza following months of devastation.
“The plan shows a realistic path to the reconstruction of Gaza and promises—if implemented—swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions for Palestinians,” the foreign ministers of the four nations said in a joint statement on Saturday.
The proposal, spearheaded by Egypt and endorsed by Arab leaders earlier in the week, envisions a three-phase rebuilding process to rehouse millions of displaced Palestinians while avoiding mass displacement from the enclave.
How the Gaza Reconstruction Plan Works
The five-year proposal is structured into three key phases:
- Initial Recovery (Six Months)
- Debris clearance, de-mining efforts, and temporary housing construction.
- Essential infrastructure repairs, including water and electricity networks.
- Housing & Infrastructure Development (Two Years)
- 200,000 homes constructed in the first two years.
- Focus on schools, hospitals, roads, and basic services.
- Long-Term Urban Development (By 2030)
- Additional 200,000 housing units for up to 3 million residents.
- Establishment of industrial zones, an international airport, hotels, and parks.
“We explicitly support the central role for the Palestinian Authority and the implementation of its reform agenda,” the European leaders added, stressing that governance reforms are crucial to ensuring long-term stability.
Arab vs. U.S. Vision for Gaza
The European-backed Arab plan directly counters U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal, which called for displacing Gaza’s residents and turning the territory into a luxury economic hub, dubbed the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
- The Trump administration rejected the $53B plan, arguing that Gaza remains uninhabitable and that the U.S. will continue pushing its own redevelopment strategy.
- National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes reiterated Trump’s position, saying, “The current proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable.”
Arab and European leaders vehemently opposed Trump’s vision, instead backing rebuilding Gaza for its current Palestinian residents rather than resettling them elsewhere.
The Political Question: Who Will Govern Gaza?
The European nations emphasized that a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) must govern Gaza post-reconstruction. Their statement also called for Hamas’ removal, aligning with policies already held by the U.S. and the European Union, which both classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.
“Hamas must neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel anymore,” the joint European statement read.
What’s Next?
With Arab and European backing, the reconstruction plan is expected to be presented to broader international stakeholders, including the United Nations and key financial institutions. However, the U.S. rejection creates a diplomatic challenge in securing necessary funding and political agreements.
