Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty announced that preparations to hand Gaza over to the Palestinian Authorities are underway, in a joint press conference with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

During the conference on Sunday, Minister Abdel Aaty announced the stabilization of the situation regarding a group of non-factional figures taking over the transitional administration of the Gaza Strip. This comes as part of preparatory arrangements for the Palestinian Authority to assume control of the Strip as part of Egypt's Gaza reconstruction plan.

Regarding future plans, the foreign minister emphasized the importance of holding an international conference to establish a UN-supervised international fund to support the Palestinians.

He also stressed the need to maintain the ceasefire and contain Israeli escalation, reiterating his call for the European Union to actively participate in the Gaza reconstruction conference, which will be hosted by Egypt.

Minister Abdel Aaty discussed various regional and international issues, underscoring the significance of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union, stressing the importance of collaboration on key economic and humanitarian challenges, and urged the swift disbursement of the second tranche of the €4 billion European financial package to support Egypt across multiple sectors.

Egypt unveils Gaza reconstruction plan 

On March 11, Egypt's Al-Qahera Al-Ikhbariya channel published Egypt’s plan for rebuilding Gaza, which will be presented to Arab leaders at the emergency summit hosted in Cairo on Tuesday.

Abdel Aaty previously stated that the plan was designed to ensure the Palestinian people's dignity and rights, and would be presented on March 4. 

According to Abdel Aaty, Egypt’s alternative reconstruction plan will not be solely Egyptian or Arab but will include international support and funding to ensure its effective implementation.

"We will hold intensive talks with major donor countries once the plan is adopted at the upcoming Arab Summit," he stated during a press conference with European Union Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica.  

The plan includes the formation of a Gaza Administration Committee to oversee the governance of the territory during a six-month transitional period. This committee will be independent, composed of non-partisan technocrats, and will operate under the Palestinian government.

According to the plan, the committee will be established throughout the current phase and pave the way for the full return of the administration, which would manage the next phase under Palestinian decision-making.