Egypt strategists examine alternatives to Gaza displacement plan - Foreign Affairs

Al-Ahram Weekly

26-02-2025

The Egyptian Council for Strategic Studies (ECSS) and the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA) are hosting a symposium on Wednesday, Gaza & the Future of Peace and Stability in the Middle East, to explore alternatives to the US-Israeli plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza.
A slew of politicians, diplomats, academics, and media professionals are in attendance to examine the illegality of displacement under international and humanitarian law and explore ways to rebuild conflict and war zones without displacing their native populations.
Discussions will address the risks of demographic shifts on Middle East security internally and between states, as well as their impact on the Palestinian cause, particularly in light of Israeli far-right policies.
The symposium features four sessions: International Experiences in Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction, Displacement Projects and the Palestinian Cause, The American Position on the Gaza War and its Regional Repercussions, and Repercussions of Displacement and Resettlement Projects on Regional Security.
Speaking at the opening session, Mohamed Orbi, former minister of foreign affairs and chairman of the ECFA, warned that the Palestinian issue is being dismantled and redefined under concepts straying from the aspirations of Palestinians, Arab nations, and those seeking peace.
He noted that the displacement proposals contradict international law, the United Nations (UN) Charter, and global norms. Additionally, he highlighted the dangerous situation in the West Bank, saying Israel had "gone beyond the limits of the region.'
He emphasized that the symposium aims to generate rapid and decisive ideas in line with Egypt's plans to rebuild Gaza with Palestinian, Arab, and international support.
Devastation in Gaza
A joint UN, World Bank, and European Union (EU) report estimates that rebuilding Gaza will cost over $50 billion.
The Interim Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (IRDNA) reported that over 292,000 homes were destroyed or damaged, and the local economy has contracted by 83 percent. Additionally, 95 percent of hospitals were destroyed and are now inoperable.
Earlier in February, Trump's proposal that Washington take control of Gaza, forcibly displace its native Palestinian population, and build a 'Middle East Riviera' sparked global outcry. The US president had cited Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab countries as possible destinations for the Palestinians.
Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab nations immediately rejected the idea, considering it a dismissal of Palestinians' historical rights and a threat to regional stability.
Egypt is preparing a comprehensive plan for rebuilding the heavily devastated Gaza Strip without displacing the Palestinians, which will be presented on 4 March at the Cairo emergency Arab summit on the Palestinian cause.
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