The White House has reportedly agreed to the Egyptian plan for Gaza reconstruction, but with a significant condition: Hamas must be removed and fully disarmed. This development comes as the international community continues to seek a lasting solution to the Gaza conflict. According to recent reports, Egypt's plan for Gaza reconstruction involves a comprehensive five-year initiative, projected to cost $53 billion.¹ The plan includes a committee of experts to oversee the clearance of rubble and unexploded ordnance, followed by a four-and-a-half-year reconstruction phase. However, the plan's success hinges on addressing the complex issue of Hamas's future. Israel has expressed concerns about the plan, citing the need for a security-only approach in dealing with Hamas. The US role in the process will be crucial, with some suggesting that a coordinated US-Arab effort could help prepare the ground for peace negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
Israel paving asphalt road along Philadelphi Corridor: war monitors
The Israeli military is paving an asphalt road along a section of the Gaza Strip’s southern border with Egypt, according to satellite imagery analysed by two US-based war monitors.
“Paving the Philadelphi Corridor will make it harder for Palestinian militias to plant improvised explosive devices (IED) along it,” the Critical Threats Project and Institute for Study of War report.