Israel on Tuesday condemned a plan put forward by Arab nations for the reconstruction of Gaza, while Palestinian militant group Hamas hailed it as a positive step.
Following a summit of Arab leaders in Cairo, Israel’s foreign ministry stated that the proposed reconstruction plan failed to address the situation after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. “Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack, which resulted in thousands of Israeli deaths and hundreds of kidnappings, is not mentioned, nor is there any condemnation of this murderous terrorist entity,” the foreign ministry said.
In contrast, Hamas welcomed the outcome, calling for the necessary resources to ensure the success of the plan. The group described the summit as a “step forward” in garnering Arab and Islamic support for the Palestinian cause. Hamas also urged Arab leaders to pressure Israel into honoring its ceasefire agreement with the group. “We value the Arab stance rejecting the attempts to displace our people,” Hamas added.
The summit in Cairo resulted in the adoption of Egypt’s proposal, which aims to reconstruct Gaza at a cost of $53 billion and avoids the resettlement of Palestinians.
Israel, however, reiterated its backing for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan, which sought to displace Palestinians and relocate them to Jordan and Egypt. Israel accused Arab states of rejecting the proposal without due consideration.
The Israeli government also criticized the Arab summit’s reliance on the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), citing their alleged history of corruption and support for terrorism.
The Arab statement, on the other hand, condemned Israel’s recent decision to halt aid entry into Gaza, called for an end to Israeli “aggression” in the West Bank, and affirmed the crucial role of UNRWA in providing services in Gaza and the West Bank.
