Hamas Welcomes Arab Gaza Proposal Amid US and Israeli Rejection
Hamas has welcomed the Arab proposal to rebuild the Gaza Strip under a future Palestinian Authority administration, calling for it to be implemented in practice on the ground, and adding that Tuesday’s Arab League summit was a “step forward” for Arab support behind the Palestinian cause.
“We welcome the plan to rebuild Gaza, and we call for the provision of all the elements needed for its success. We also appreciate Egypt’s efforts in preparing to hold an international conference to rebuild Gaza,” they said in a statement.
The Trump administration in the US however, has rejected the idea, claiming that the plan “does not address the reality that Gaza is currently unhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnances”.
Tuesday’s Arab League summit in Cairo offered an alternative “comprehensive Arab plan”, as well as the establishment of a trust fund to pay for the territory’s reconstruction, and urged the international community to back it.
The National Security Council spokesperson said President Donald Trump “stands by” his controversial and widely-condemned plan to “rebuild Gaza”. The plan calls for the forced displacement of some or all of the Palestinian territory’s population.
Israel also rejected the Arab leaders’ proposal, saying it “failed to address realities” and accused the PA and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA of “corruption” and “support for terrorism”.
