Arab leaders agree Egypt’s plan for Hamas-free Gaza

The Egyptian plan calls for the establishment of temporary housing for Gaza's displaced people, the removal of unexploded ordnance and the clearing of the over 50 million tons of rubble left by the latest Israeli military operations.

It also aims to reshape the Strip over the long term with sustainable housing, renewable energy and plans for industrial zones, parks, and commercial ports.

The plan includes the long-sought goal of opening a fishing port and an airport in Gaza – projects that were outlined in the Oslo Accords but have never been fully realised.

Speaking at the summit, President al-Sisi expressed optimism about the potential for peace, stating, he was certain that US president Donald Trump would be able to achieve a settlement on what he referred to as the Palestinian issue.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, present at the summit, voiced his support for the Arab-led initiative.

“I welcome and strongly endorse the Arab-led initiative to mobilize support for Gaza’s reconstruction, clearly expressed in this summit,” he said. “The UN stands ready to fully cooperate in this endeavor.”

However, the plan raised questions about Gaza’s future leadership, particularly the role of Hamas. While the Egyptian proposal does not directly mention Hamas, it emphasises that independent Palestinian technocrats, unaffiliated with the group, would take control of the territory once hostilities end.

The US and Israel are expected to push back against the proposal, with both states favouring President Trump’s alternative. 

Indeed, US National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes issued a statement rejecting the Egyptian draft, saying: “[The plan] does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance.

"President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas. We look forward to further talks to bring peace and prosperity to the region."

Trump’s "vision” focuses on the complete dismantling of Hamas, emphasising a future where the region is free from the militant group's influence.

The US sees this as essential for peace and stability in the broader Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also embraced Trump’s approach, affirming Israel’s commitment to the plan.

In a statement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the Egyptian plan “fails to address the realities of the situation.”

It reiterated Israel’s support for Trump’s plan to resettle Gaza’s population elsewhere, describing it as “an opportunity for the Gazans to have free choice based on their free will,” a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again gave his full-throated backing to the proposal, calling it “visionary and innovative.”

Meanwhile Hamas itself has rejected external involvement in Gaza’s future.

In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stressed the importance of national consensus in deciding Gaza’s reconstruction and governance. "Any plans for Gaza’s future must come through national consensus," Qassem said.

The terror group will only accept an Arab-led plan for postwar reconstruction of Gaza that wins the support of Palestinians in the enclave, rejecting “external forces” determining the future of the Strip, he added.

Hamas has also made it clear that disarmament is not on the table. Senior Hamas figure Sami Abu Zuhri reiterated that the group and other Palestinian factions would not relinquish their weapons, declaring that "any talk about the resistance’s weapons is nonsense. The resistance’s weapons are a red line for Hamas and all resistance factions".