Arab leaders set to meet in Cairo over alternative to Trump’s Gaza plan

Arab foreign ministers met in Cairo on Monday for a closed-door preparatory session, focusing on a plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its population, according to an Arab League source.

The draft plan would bypass Hamas, which controls Gaza, and replace the group with interim bodies controlled by Arab, Muslim and Western states. The proposal does not specify whether it would be implemented before or after a permanent deal to end the war in Gaza.

The proposal also lacks details on the role of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which has sought to lead Gaza’s reconstruction efforts but is opposed by Israel, which accuses the PA of supporting terrorism.

Nor does it clarify how Hamas would be sidelined, how the Strip would be rebuilt or who would fund the reconstruction.

The plan “would be presented to Arab leaders at Tuesday’s summit for approval,” the source said.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa are expected to deliver opening remarks at the summit, according to a schedule shared by the Arab League.

Trump's proposal to assume control of Gaza, while relocating its Palestinian residents to Egypt, Jordan, or other countries, provoked global outrage.

Since then, he has softened his stance, stating he was “not forcing” the plan, which experts have warned could violate international law.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since Hamas took control in 2007, with critics of Israel often describing it as an “open-air prison.” Israel argues the blockade is necessary to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons into the territory.

In a speech to the Knesset on Monday, Netanyahu reiterated his backing for Trump, stating: “It’s time to give the residents of Gaza a real choice. It’s time to give them the freedom to leave.”

The idea of expelling Gaza’s residents has won support from far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has called for Israel to “establish full sovereignty there”.

The Cairo summit takes place amid an impasse between Israel and Hamas over continuing the ceasefire that began on January 19, 2025.

The first phase of the ceasefire saw the release of 33 Israeli hostages, eight of whom were dead, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including many convicted terrorists. Five Thai nationals held hostage in Gaza were also freed during this period.

While Israel has expressed support for extending the first phase until mid-April — and stipulated that this should now include the release of 59 remaining hostages — Hamas has accused Israel of violating the deal and insists on moving forward with the second phase.

Netanyahu warned Hamas on Monday there would be “consequences that you cannot imagine” if the remaining hostages were not released.

A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, accused Israel of sabotaging the ceasefire, calling Israel’s push for an extension “a blatant attempt to… avoid entering into negotiations for the second phase”.

As the first phase of the truce ended, Netanyahu’s office announced Israel would halt “all entry of goods and supplies” into Gaza and that Hamas would face “other consequences” if it did not agree to the extension.

But the move drew criticism from key mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, as well as from other regional governments, the United Nations and some of Israel’s allies.

According to the UN, the war has destroyed or damaged most buildings in Gaza, displaced nearly the entire population and triggered widespread hunger. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

Israel’s military campaign, aimed at eliminating Hamas and securing the release of hostages, has resulted in significant casualties. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has claimed more than 48,000 deaths in the territory, although the toll cannot be independently verified. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 Hamas combatants, in addition to 1,600 terrorists who invaded Israel on October 7.

Israel maintains that it seeks to minimise civilian fatalities, accusing Hamas of using Gaza’s civilians as human shields by operating from within civilian structures such as homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques.

Since it launched operations against Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel’s own death toll stands at 410, including soldiers and civilians.