El-Sisi heads to Saudi Arabia as Arab leaders plan Gaza reconstruction
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Arab countries are expected to discuss a plan to rebuild Gaza following the 15-month Israeli war on the territory, which includes financial contributions from regional countries amounting to up to $20 billion.
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi speaks at the BRICS Summit extended format session in Kazan, Russia, Wednesday, October 23, 2024 (AP)
After concluding his visit to the Spanish capital, the Egyptian presidency announced in a statement on Thursday that President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi would head to Saudi Arabia.
Egyptian television suggested that "this trip is likely to focus on a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, following the American proposal to relocate residents of the Palestinian territory to Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan."
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman invited the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, along with the Egyptian President and the King of Jordan, to an informal meeting on Friday in Riyadh, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Reuters reported that Arab countries are expected to discuss a plan to rebuild Gaza following the 15-month Israeli war on the Strip, which includes financial contributions from regional countries amounting to up to $20 billion. This initiative aims to counter US President Donald Trump's proposal to seize Gaza and forcibly displace its residents.
The Saudi Press Agency stated that the meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Riyadh would address "Arab joint action and the decisions related to it," which will be included in the agenda of the upcoming Arab summit.
Earlier, Reuters cited multiple sources indicating that Saudi Arabia is "Saudi Arabia is spearheading urgent Arab efforts to develop a plan for Gaza's future as a counter to US President Donald Trump's ambition for a Middle East Riviera cleared of its Palestinian inhabitants."
Read more: Arab summit on Gaza to be postponed: Arab League deputy chief
The Arab proposal, largely based on an Egyptian plan, suggests the formation of a Palestinian committee to govern Gaza without the participation of Hamas, and calls for international involvement in rebuilding the territory without displacing its residents.
During a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his visit to the occupied Palestinian territories, Netanyahu praised what he called Trump's "bold vision" for displacing Palestinians from Gaza, noting that the meeting discussed how to transform this vision into a practical reality.
