Muslim Nations Reject U.S. Proposal for Gaza, Support Palestinian-Led Reconstruction
U.S. President Donald Trump, along with Israel, dismissed an Arab-backed plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, proposing instead that the territory be transformed into a “Middle East Riviera.” This suggestion faced swift criticism for recommending the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza.
Trump’s proposal, estimated to take 10 to 15 years, would render Gaza uninhabitable during the process.
However, on Thursday, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff appeared to soften Washington’s opposition to the Arab-backed plan. Speaking to reporters, he acknowledged that the proposal contained “compelling features” and described it as a “good faith first step” by Egypt, though he emphasized the need for further discussions.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, foreign ministers from Muslim countries rejected U.S. calls to remove Gaza’s Palestinian population. Instead, they supported a proposal for an administrative committee comprised of Palestinians to govern the territory and facilitate its reconstruction.
At the same time, Hamas reported receiving “positive signals” from Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo regarding the next phase of cease-fire negotiations with Israel. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua did not provide specifics but confirmed that discussions were ongoing about how to proceed with the delayed settlement process.
The meeting of foreign ministers took place in Saudi Arabia during a special session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, focusing on the deteriorating situation in Gaza.













Leave a Reply