The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the UK say they support the Arab-backed plan for the rebuilding of Gaza that would cost $53bn and avoid displacing Palestinians from the enclave.
The plan, drawn up by Egypt and adopted by Arab leaders this week, has been rejected by Israel and the United States.
“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 the Palestinians living in Gaza,” the ministers said in a joint statement.
“We are clear that Hamas must neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel any more. We explicitly support the central role for the Palestinian Authority and the implementation of its reform agenda,” It read. The Arab plan calls for a group of “independent Palestinian technocrats” to manage affairs in Gaza, in effect replacing Hamas.
The plan offers an alternative to United States President Donald Trump’s plan that Gaza be depopulated to “develop” the enclave, under US control. His suggestions would trigger ethnic cleansing.
The Arab plan consists of three major stages: Interim measures, reconstruction and governance. A six-month interim period would require a committee of Palestinian technocrats – operating under the management of the PA – to clear the rubble from Salah al-Din Street, which is the main north-south highway in the Gaza Strip.
Once the roads are clear, 200,000 temporary housing units would be built to accommodate 1.2 million people and about 60,000 damaged buildings restored.
According to the blueprint, longer-term reconstruction requires an additional four to five years after the interim measures are completed. Over that span, the plan aims to build at least 400,000 permanent homes, as well as rebuilding Gaza’s seaport and international airport.
Gradually, basic provisions such as water, a waste system, telecommunication services and electricity would also be restored.
The plan further calls for the establishment of a Steering and Management Council, which would be a financial fund supporting the interim governing body in Gaza.
