Arab States Wake Up to Fact That Trump Means What He Says on Gaza

Egypt Leads Race for Alternative to Trump Plan It Fears Could Destabilize the Middle East

- Summer Said & Michael R. Gordon

Egypt has launched a diplomatic blitz to corral support for an Arab-led and funded initiative to rebuild the Gaza Strip, setting aside old political concerns in hopes of boxing out a Trump plan that is wildly unpopular across the Arab world.

The efforts show how President Trump's surprise proposal for the U.S. to take over Gaza and redevelop it as an international destination—while its Palestinian population is moved out—has upended the positions of major players in the region toward the 16-month war between Israel and Hamas.

Arab states that had once hoped to use their funding capacity to push for a Palestinian state are now under pressure to prevent a mass displacement of Gazans that could destabilize any countries pressed to take them in.

The risks are high for Egypt if it can't craft an alternative. Trump has repeatedly suggested sending Gazans there, despite Cairo's rejection of the idea. Asked Tuesday where the Palestinians would go, Trump answered in part, "I believe we'll have a parcel of land in Egypt."

Egypt's broad idea, people familiar with the matter said, is to keep Palestinians in place and form a committee of technocrats drawn from across Gaza to administer the enclave. Palestinians trained by Arab forces would provide security. Egyptian officials are now seeking public and private funding sources across the region and hope to hold a donor conference to secure commitments.

The reconstruction plan is expected to take up to five years and would be carried out in stages, with the first focused on restoring essential services and providing shelter.