Latest news with #ArabPlanfortheReconstructionofGaza
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Standing up to Israel's schemes - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt is continuing to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza while firmly rejecting Israel's plans to displace the Palestinians from their land. Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli reiterated Egypt's commitment to the continued delivery of various forms of humanitarian relief to the besieged Palestinians in Gaza this week, indicating that the country is exerting dual efforts by sending truck convoys through the Rafah Crossing, which operates around the clock, while also conducting airdrops in coordination with several other nations. In a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Mohamed Mustafa this week, Madbouli also affirmed Egypt's continuing efforts to reach a ceasefire and end the war on Gaza in numerous international forums, as well as within the framework of mediation efforts with both Qatar and the US. It is ensuring the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and preparing to convene the Cairo Conference for the Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza, Madbouli said. On Tuesday, Egypt sent its 18th humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza, including thousands of tons of essential goods, food, medical supplies, and medicines. Amal Imam, Executive Director of the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), indicated that since 27 July Egypt has sent 18 aid convoys to Gaza to help alleviate the suffering of starving Palestinians in critical need of humanitarian aid due to Israel's five-month deliberate blockade of the Strip. 'Egypt has sent more than 36,000 trucks carrying nearly half a million tons of humanitarian and relief aid to Gaza since the war erupted in October 2023,' Imam said, indicating that the 'ERC's trucks are carrying between 2,500 and 3,000 tons of aid to Gaza almost every day.' Madbouli also indicated that Egypt is exerting tremendous efforts to mobilise international support for the implementation of the Arab Plan for the Reconstruction of Gaza, including rebuilding infrastructure and restoring all aspects of life in preparation for the development of the Strip. He blasted Israel's plans for conquering the city of Gaza and displacing the Palestinians to other countries. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that Egypt is following with deep concern reports of Israeli consultation with some other countries to allow the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza on their land. 'This is part of an unacceptable Israeli policy aimed at emptying Palestinian land of its inhabitants, occupying it, and liquidating the Palestinian cause,' the statement said. The Foreign Ministry called upon all peace-loving countries around the world not to be involved in Israel's crime of forcibly deporting the Palestinians in Gaza from their land. 'This is a war crime, ethnic cleansing, and a flagrant violation of all principles of international humanitarian law,' the statement said. The Ministry said it had contacted countries reportedly preparing to receive the Palestinians and had been assured that they had rejected Israel's proposals. 'We told the governments of these countries to reject this immoral crime that would violate the Geneva Conventions and that any party that might take part in such a scheme would bear the historical and legal responsibility for it,' the ministry said. Ambassador Rakha Hassan, a former assistant foreign minister, said in a TV interview that it was no secret that Egypt has conducted intensive contacts regarding joint American-Israeli plans to persuade certain countries to accept Palestinians from Gaza as immigrants or refugees, especially since the names of these countries have been circulated. However, these countries have denied the veracity of these reports, Hassan said. There had been reports that Libya, Ethiopia, Somaliland, South Sudan, and Indonesia had agreed to receive Palestinian immigrants or refugees, but these countries have categorically denied these reports, stressing their absolute refusal to receive any Palestinians who are forcibly displaced from their land, an international crime with legal consequences. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Egypt is working through 'different channels' to alleviate the burden and suffering of the Palestinians. He said Egypt has contributed 70 per cent of the assistance that has been delivered to Gaza since the war erupted in October 2023. 'There are also 5,000 trucks on the Egyptian side of the Crossing waiting to enter the besieged Strip, but the Israelis are not allowing them to enter,' Abdelatty said. He emphasised that accusations that Cairo has blocked the aid are 'a complete lie' and that Israel alone controls the Palestinian side of the Rafah Crossing, which its forces have destroyed four times. 'They are physically there, preventing any truck or person from moving in,' Abdelatty told the US network CNN on Monday. Abdelatty warned Israel that the mass displacement of the Palestinians from Gaza is a red line and that it would not be tolerated by Egypt because it is a risk to Egypt's national security and sovereignty. Asked whether the war places the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty at risk, Abdelatty said Cairo 'is respecting and honouring its commitments according to the Peace Treaty' but warned that any kind of displacement of the Gazans would be a 'big risk, and we will not allow any single party to risk our national security and the control of our border.' The minister's warnings are some of the harshest made since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that talks are underway with several countries about taking in Palestinians displaced by the war. Abdelatty told CNN that while Egypt maintains contact with Israel on the security and intelligence levels, it has not seen a desire from the political leadership there to conclude the war. During a press conference with the Palestinian prime minister on the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing, Abdelatty stressed that Egypt will continue to support the Palestinian people in their quest to achieve their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state. He explained that what the Palestinian people are being subjected to is a flagrant violation of international law and conventions, adding that 'the Israeli killing machine is systematically targeting civilians, children, and those waiting for aid.' Abdelatty said Hamas has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar, raising hopes that a long-awaited breakthrough in negotiations could come very soon. The plan would see Hamas release half of the Israeli hostages it still holds in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a partial Israeli troop withdrawal. Israel has yet to respond to the terms of the ceasefire. Abdelatty did not rule out the temporary deployment of Egyptian or international forces under a UN Resolution that ensures the creation of a Palestinian state. * A version of this article appears in print in the 21 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Independent
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Egypt seeks UNDP's support for Gaza reconstruction efforts
Egypt has expressed its desire to receive support the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in implementing the Arab Plan for the Reconstruction of Gaza and to benefit from its available expertise. The Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the UNDP, Abdallah al-Dardary, expressed the UNDP's readiness to place its accumulated expertise in early recovery and reconstruction at Egypt's disposal to benefit from it and contribute to the implementation of the Arab Plan. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Badr Abdelatty, received Dardary to discuss the Arab Plan for the Reconstruction of Gaza and the Cairo Ministerial Conference for Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza. Cairo continues its efforts with mediators to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, amid internal political divisions in Israel and increasing international pressure to end the crisis. Hamas announced its willingness to release Israeli soldier Idan Alexander, a US citizen, along with the bodies of four other dual nationals. It stressed that the release of Alexander and the other hostages is conditional on Israel's commitment to implementing the terms of the agreement. Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif al-Qanou confirmed in press statements on Sunday that the movement's delegation in Cairo 'renewed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement.' He indicated that the delegation is following up on proposals to consolidate the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, accusing Israel of violating the agreement and deliberately delaying the implementation of its provisions. Hamas also issued a statement on Sunday condemning the horrific massacre committed by Israeli forces in the town of Beit Lahia, north of Gaza Strip, which resulted in the deaths of nine civilians, including journalists, according to preliminary statistics.
Middle East
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// FM eyes UNDP support to Arab Plan for the Reconstruction of Gaza
CAIRO, MARCH 15 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty on Saturday said that he is looking forward to gaining the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in implementing the Arab Plan for the Reconstruction of Gaza and leveraging its expertise in the early recovery phase. Abdelatty made the remarks during a meeting with Abdallah al Dardari, the Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Arab States, to discuss the Arab reconstruction plan for Gaza and the anticipated Cairo ministerial conference for Gaza early recovery and rebuilding. The Egyptian top diplomat was keen to learn about what the program could offer to implement the plan, saying that he is looking forward to receiving the UNDP support for Cairo conference on the reconstruction of Gaza that will be co-organized with the UN and the Palestinian government. Concerning the bilateral cooperation, Abdelatty expressed appreciation for the significant role of the UNDP in supporting development efforts in Egypt and expressed desire that the program would increase its contributions in the coming period. He affirmed Egypt's commitment to supporting the UN efforts to promote sustainable development in the Arab region, particularly in light of the current political, security, economic, and social challenges. For his part, the UN official Dardari emphasized the UN appreciation for Egypt's efforts in preparing the Gaza Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan, which was adopted by the Extraordinary Arab Summit and the ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). (MENA) A A E/M N E
Egypt Today
15-03-2025
- Business
- Egypt Today
Egypt's FM, Director of UNDP discuss Gaza Reconstruction Plan
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty meets with Abdallah Al Dardari, Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the UNDP, on Saturday, March 15, 2025. CAIRO – 15 March 2025: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration Badr Abdelatty met with Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on Saturday, March 15, 2025. The meeting focused on the Arab Plan for the Reconstruction of Gaza and the Cairo Ministerial Conference for Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza, according to a statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. Minister Abdelatty expressed his commitment to supporting the UNDP in implementing the Arab Plan for Gaza's reconstruction, particularly in the early recovery phase. He emphasized Egypt's intention to benefit from the UNDP's expertise in preparing for the reconstruction of the Strip. Additionally, the Minister expressed his desire to provide support for the Cairo Ministerial Conference for Gaza's reconstruction, which will be jointly organized with the UN and the Palestinian government. On bilateral cooperation, Minister Abdelatty acknowledged the significant role of the UNDP in supporting Egypt's development efforts. He expressed hope that the UNDP would increase its contributions to support government initiatives, particularly in development projects that create job opportunities, attract foreign investment, and boost production. These efforts would align with Egypt's priorities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Abdelatty also reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to supporting the UN's sustainable development efforts in the Arab region, especially amidst the current political, security, economic, and social challenges. He emphasized that Egypt is a key partner in these efforts and is dedicated to enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise for tangible, positive outcomes. In response, Mr. Al-Dardari praised Egypt's efforts in preparing the early recovery and reconstruction plan for Gaza, which was adopted by the extraordinary Arab Summit and the ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He assured that the UN is ready to provide all necessary technical and logistical support in the upcoming phase, contributing to the success of the reconstruction conference. Mr. Al-Dardari also offered the UNDP's accumulated experience in early recovery and reconstruction to support Egypt in implementing the Arab plan. Egyptian/Arab proposal seeks to replace a widely condemned initiative by US President Donald Trump, which aimed to "take over" Gaza and permanently displace its two million Palestinian residents to Egypt and Jordan. The UN estimates that rebuilding Gaza and the occupied West Bank will require more than $53 billion over the next ten years, including $20 billion over the coming three years alone. The main areas of the Plan: The plan categorizes areas in Gaza into three primary groups: totally destroyed areas, partially destroyed areas, and those less affected. Additionally, cultural heritage sites and locations of significant events were selected for commemoration. The plan begins with clearing debris and hazardous materials from the Gaza Strip and emphasizes the importance of utilizing the million tons of rubble generated by the destruction—one-third of which is located in Gaza City. This rubble contains unexploded missiles and bombs, posing a significant risk to the population. This million tons of rubble—almost twice the size of New York City—is seen as a valuable resource for reconstruction efforts. It may also play a role in land reclamation projects along the coast. The three phases of the Plan: The plan outlines three main phases to be executed over five years, beginning with a six-month emergency recovery phase, followed by two additional phases that will concentrate on establishing permanent housing and developing infrastructure. All phases concentrate on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip while the people are still living on their own lands inside the Strip. The first phase of recovery (six months) emphasizes emergency recovery and the provision of temporary housing for 1.526 million individuals. There are plans for two types of temporary housing: tent camps and temporary mobile houses (Caravans 12 X 3.5 meters- living room, 2 bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen- for a family of 6 persons), with essential services offered at each location. The primary focus of reconstruction will be along Salah al-Din Road, allowing for simultaneous development across all five governorates. The second phase, which will conclude in 2030 , aims to build 200,000 permanent housing units and restore 60,000 existing units, along with the development of industrial zones and ports. Major components of the plan include the construction of 460,000 designed to house three million people, the restoration of 20,000 acres of agricultura land within the next two years, and the development of industrial zones and ports.
