Trump's Middle East Reconstruction Plan Opposes Gaza Initiative... "Total Cost Expected to Reach 76 Trillion Won"

Arab state leaders will hold a summit to discuss the Gaza reconstruction plan prepared by Egypt in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza initiative. According to UN estimates, the cost of rebuilding Gaza is expected to reach 76 trillion won.

According to AFP and other sources, leaders from Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Jordan will gather in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the 21st (local time). This meeting is a preliminary consultation ahead of the Arab League (AL) summit scheduled for the 4th of next month in Cairo, Egypt.

At this Riyadh meeting, detailed discussions will focus on the reconstruction plan prepared by Egypt to counter President Trump's Gaza initiative.

The core of Trump's Gaza initiative is to forcibly relocate the approximately 2 million Palestinian residents of Gaza to neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt, after which the U.S. would take over the vacant land and develop it into a coastal resort area.

This initiative, first announced during a joint press conference following the White House summit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the 4th, effectively overturns the U.S.'s long-standing "two-state solution" policy supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and has faced strong international backlash.

The New York Times (NYT) criticized the plan, stating it contains clear violations of international law, including forced displacement, denial of the right of return, and territorial occupation.

The Arab reconstruction plan drafted by Egypt in opposition to Trump's initiative envisions rebuilding Gaza without forcibly relocating Palestinian residents to neighboring countries, and establishing a regional committee excluding the armed faction Hamas to govern the area.

Currently, 65% of Gaza's urban area is destroyed, and reconstruction is expected to take at least 3 to 5 years.

According to the draft reconstruction plan, the first phase during the initial six months involves bringing in heavy machinery to clear debris from collapsed and destroyed buildings and setting up safe zones within Gaza to accommodate residents.

The second phase will focus on rebuilding destroyed infrastructure, and the final third phase will include urban development plans such as housing, education, and healthcare system construction, alongside actively promoting a political roadmap to realize the "two-state solution."

The roadmap is expected to include forming a regional committee composed of Palestinian political actors who exclude Hamas, the armed faction that has effectively governed Gaza and fought wars with Israel, to govern the area.

With the UN estimating the total cost of Gaza reconstruction at $53 billion (approximately 76 trillion won), the biggest challenge is securing funding.

Among the reconstruction costs, an initial $20 billion (approximately 29 trillion won) is being considered for joint funding by Gulf countries. The Palestinian Authority (PA) also estimates that about $20 billion will be needed for initial reconstruction over the next three years.

While some oil-producing countries like Kuwait are expected to contribute funds willingly, Saudi Arabia and the UAE may attach stringent conditions to their contributions, making discussions difficult.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.