Algeria and Tunisia have decided to skip a high-profile Arab summit in Cairo, rejecting what they describe as a “prepackaged” plan for rebuilding Gaza drawn up by a select group of nations.
The summit, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, aims to unite Arab states around a strategy for post-war Gaza, as Washington and Tel Aviv push their own proposals, including a controversial plan to turn the region into a tourist destination. But disagreements have emerged over who should lead the region’s response.
Tensions in Decision-Making
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, a staunch defender of Palestinian rights, withdrew from the summit over the weekend, sending his foreign minister instead. According to an Algerian official quoted by state media, Tebboune’s absence is a protest against an “exclusionary process” dominated by regional power centers. The official expressed disappointment that Algeria was sidelined despite its role in the UN ceasefire negotiations.
Following Algeria’s move, Tunisian President Kais Saeed also opted to withdraw, sending his foreign minister away. Analysts see this as a show of solidarity with Algeria, given that Tunisia’s foreign policy is generally aligned with that of Algeria.
Divisions Within the Arab League
The absence of the two North African leaders highlights divisions within the Arab League, which has struggled to maintain a unified stance on the Palestinian issue. While Saudi Arabia has recently distanced itself from the US-led Israeli normalization effort, it remains deeply involved in Washington’s broader regional strategy.
Egypt, meanwhile, played a leading role in the ceasefire negotiations and is now spearheading a reconstruction plan for Gaza. According to Reuters, Cairo’s proposal — widely seen as the pioneering one — calls for Hamas’s leadership to be replaced by an interim body overseen by Arab, Muslim-majority, Western states. Known as the Governance Assistance Mission, the body would manage humanitarian aid and oversee reconstruction efforts for an unspecified period.
The summit comes amid heightened tensions over Israel’s renewed blockade of Gaza at the start of Ramadan in an attempt to pressure Hamas to extend the first phase of a ceasefire. Aid agencies have condemned the blockade as “collective punishment.”
At 3 p.m. Cairo time, the 22-member Arab League is set to discuss the proposal, which could determine the future of Gaza’s governance and reconstruction.