Egypt says it strives to maintain Gaza ceasefire, develop multi-phase reconstruction plan

CAIRO – 19 February 2025: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly emphasized that Egypt is developing a comprehensive, multi-phase plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza as part of the ongoing ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

While chairing the weekly Cabinet meeting, Madbouly stressed that Egypt is tirelessly working to solidify the ceasefire agreement and implement all three phases.

Concurrently, efforts are being made to intensify the flow of humanitarian aid to residents of the Strip amid deteriorating living conditions, he added.

The prime minister reaffirmed Egypt's unwavering stance on the Palestinian cause, asserting that the two-state solution remains the only path to achieving peace in the region.

Egyptian reconstruction equipment arrived in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday and has already begun paving the way to Kerem Shalom from the Palestinian side, according to al Qahera news channel#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps://t.co/KQ23AbC8om

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) February 19, 2025

Egypt is preparing a reconstruction plan for Gaza following months of war that devastated the enclave and left most of the population homeless.

Hamas reportedly vowed not to participate in the management of the Strip during the upcoming second phase of the ceasefire, which should lead to the reconstruction phase.

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.

Details of the reconstruction plan have not yet been revealed, but this 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.

🚨🚨🚨BREAKING: President Trump Proposes Moving Gazans To New Piece Of Land, Possibly In Jordan And Egypt; Says Gaza Is A Demolition Zone pic.twitter.com/VeVYOYXyeh

— Shelley G (@ShelleyGldschmt) February 4, 2025

Egypt, Jordan, the Arab League—which includes all 22 Arab countries—and the European Union have all opposed this proposal, which jeopardizes the globally advocated two-state solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

In mid-February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is eager to receive any "better plan" for Gaza from the Arab states but warned that any proposal leaving Hamas in place "is going to be a problem."

Egypt will host an emergency Arab summit on the latest Palestinian developments on March 4, 2025 in Cairo#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps://t.co/zXpmzWA8p4

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) February 18, 2025

These discussions come as Hamas and Israel prepare to negotiate the second phase of the ceasefire, which includes a permanent end to hostilities, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the release of all Israeli captives held by Hamas since October 2023.

Such steps would pave the way for the reconstruction process, expected to be part of the final phase of the agreement.

Hamas has expressed readiness to release all captives designated for phase two of the ceasefire deal with Israel in a single operation.

However, Israeli conditions for upcoming negotiations reportedly include the disarmament of Hamas and a prohibition on the Palestinian Authority's involvement in post-war governance.

Hamas has firmly rejected any conditions for disarmament or exit from the enclave, emphasizing that future arrangements for Gaza must be made with national consensus.

Since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in Gaza on 19 January, Hamas has released 24 captives it captured from Israel on 7 October 2023, with more than 70 captives still held there, including dead ones.

 

In return, Israel has released a total of 1,135 Palestinian prisoners, including many serving life sentences.

Furthermore, Hamas is set to return the bodies of four Israeli captives on Thursday including the Bibas family and will also release six living Israeli captives on Saturday, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, has halted over 15 months of Israeli war that killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children, and injured over 111,000 others.