Dr Shabana Safdar Khan
The future of Gaza remains uncertain, especially as the ceasefire in the region faces increasing instability. In response to former President Donald Trump’s controversial plan for Gaza, which envisions a dystopian future for the Palestinian people, the Arab world has rallied behind an alternative proposal. This new plan, crafted by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab League, focuses on providing a governance structure for Gaza and its reconstruction, offering a stark contrast to Trump’s vision of turning the region into a vast real estate project. However, while the Egyptian plan appears more reasonable, significant hurdles remain, and its long-term viability is still in question.
Former President Trump’s proposal for Gaza, widely criticized for its lack of respect for Palestinian sovereignty, imagines the region as a “real estate project” rather than a place where Palestinians can live freely and rebuild their lives. According to Trump’s plan, the inhabitants of Gaza would be displaced to other Arab countries, their homeland repurposed as a construction project managed by the United States. This approach would leave Gaza’s people without a land to call their own, further entrenching the ongoing injustice faced by Palestinians.
Trump’s rhetoric has also been filled with threats, including his repeated assertions that Gaza’s people could face “extermination” unless Israeli hostages were released. His plan essentially denies Palestinians the right to self-determination, making it unworkable and unacceptable to the majority of the international community, as well as the Palestinian people themselves.
In contrast, Egypt’s proposal focuses on providing Gaza with governance and a pathway to reconstruction. This plan seeks to establish an administrative committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the war-torn Strip. It envisions a multi-billion-dollar reconstruction effort that would rebuild Gaza’s infrastructure while allowing its people to remain in their homeland. The approach aims to restore Gaza’s functionality and create a sustainable future for its inhabitants, without resorting to forced displacement.
The Arab League has expressed its full support for this initiative, recognizing it as a potential solution to the devastation caused by the ongoing conflict. The goal is not only to rebuild Gaza’s physical infrastructure but also to provide the Palestinian people with a sense of hope and stability.
However, as optimistic as this plan might seem on the surface, several challenges stand in the way of its successful implementation.
The Egyptian plan is not without its flaws, and while it provides a more humane alternative to Trump’s vision, it remains far from perfect. One of the key obstacles is the lack of consensus within Palestinian factions. Hamas, the governing group in Gaza, has reluctantly accepted the proposal but has firmly rejected any non-Palestinian administration overseeing Gaza. This is a significant sticking point, as the plan calls for external involvement in Gaza’s governance, which Hamas and other Palestinian factions view as a violation of their sovereignty.
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Additionally, the success of the Egyptian plan hinges heavily on the financial support of wealthier Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These nations’ contributions in the form of aid are essential for the reconstruction efforts to succeed. However, there is considerable skepticism regarding whether these countries will provide substantial support without conditions. Specifically, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have a long history of distrust toward Hamas, and their willingness to contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction could depend on Hamas being removed from the picture. This creates an immediate tension, as it seems unlikely that Hamas will agree to step down, given its strong political and military presence in Gaza.
Furthermore, the United States and Israel are unlikely to support any plan that includes Hamas in Gaza’s governance. Both have labeled Hamas a terrorist organization, and the U.S. administration under President Joe Biden has made it clear that its stance on Gaza’s future will not entertain the idea of Hamas holding power. This external pressure only complicates the situation and makes the Egyptian plan’s success seem uncertain.
Despite these significant challenges, one positive development arising from the Arab plan is the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to holding elections in the occupied territories “if circumstances allow.” Elections could serve as a critical step toward restoring political legitimacy and unity within Palestine. The Palestinian people, who have endured decades of occupation, should be given the opportunity to determine their own political future through democratic means. Holding elections in the occupied territories could potentially pave the way for a more inclusive and representative government, strengthening the Palestinian people’s claim to self-determination.
Reviving the electoral process in Palestine is essential not just for governance but also for the continuation of the struggle for freedom. It is important to recognize that any externally imposed plan, like the Trump or Egyptian proposals, that fails to recognize the centrality of Palestinian agency and political rights is destined to fail. The future of Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories should not be dictated by foreign powers, but rather by the people who have lived under occupation for decades.
One of the most critical aspects that is often overlooked in discussions about Gaza’s future is the need for a clear and actionable timeline for the end of Israeli occupation. Any plan that does not address the root cause of the Palestinian people’s suffering — the ongoing occupation of their land — is unlikely to succeed in the long term. As the world watches the situation unfold, it is crucial that any proposal for Gaza’s future is grounded in the principle of Palestinian sovereignty and self-determination.
This means that solutions to Gaza’s governance and rebuilding should be framed not as temporary fixes but as steps toward a permanent end to the occupation. Palestinian independence and freedom cannot be negotiated away or traded for economic aid and reconstruction projects. Any plan that fails to recognize this fundamental truth will only serve to perpetuate the status quo of oppression and injustice.
The future of Gaza is undeniably uncertain, and both the Egyptian and Trumpian proposals offer starkly different visions for the region. While the Egyptian plan presents a more reasonable and humane approach, there are still significant obstacles to its success, particularly with regard to Palestinian political divisions, external interference, and the question of governance in Gaza. Ultimately, the Palestinian people must be given the right to determine their own fate, and any solution that fails to respect this principle is unlikely to bring lasting peace or stability.
As the international community navigates these complex challenges, the focus must remain on ensuring that any future plan for Gaza is centered on Palestinian self-determination and the eventual end of Israeli occupation. Until these goals are achieved, no external plan, no matter how well-intentioned, will be able to deliver true justice or lasting peace to the people of Gaza.
