Egypt unveils £42bn plan to rebuild shattered Gaza and outflank Trump

Egypt yesterday put forward a £42bn plan to rebuild Gaza as an alternative to Donald Trump's property development-style project that involves relocating the Palestinian population.

- Oliver Holmes

The proposal, presented at an Arab League summit in Cairo, focuses on emergency relief, rebuilding shattered infrastructure and long-term economic development.

The Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said in his opening remarks that the reconstruction plan would ensure Palestinians could "remain on their land".

Later, the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said it stood ready to "fully cooperate". In a 112-page document, the Egyptian government presented AI-generated images of housing developments, gardens and community centres, with plans for a commercial harbour, a technology hub, beach hotels and an airport.

The Egyptian proposal did not fully address who would run the territory; the draft communique mentioned only support for a Palestinian administrative committee.

Critically, it has also not received backing from Gaza's occupying power: Israel. Previous economic plans failed after they were stifled by Israel, which has blockaded and bombed the strip for years.

Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says he wants permanent, overarching control over all land in the Palestinian territories.

Hamas, for its part, has been battered by 15 months of war but remains a political force and is unlikely to agree to a process that excludes it.