Egypt confirmed on Tuesday that it will host an emergency Arab summit on March 4 to discuss comprehensive plans for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, with a firm commitment to ensuring that the Palestinian inhabitants remain in their homeland. The summit will focus on rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure, economy, and social systems, devastated by years of conflict, while safeguarding the rights of its Palestinian population.
The summit, initially scheduled for February 27, was postponed to March 4 to allow for “the completion of logistical preparations,” as stated by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. The new date was set after consultations with Bahrain, the current chair of the Arab League, and other Arab countries to ensure broad participation and consensus.
This decision comes amid growing opposition to a controversial proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump. The proposal, which suggested relocating Palestinian residents from Gaza to other regions and taking control of the area, has been widely criticized across the Arab world. Critics argue that the plan constitutes ethnic cleansing and undermines Palestinian sovereignty and rights.
In response to the proposal, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced on Sunday that Egypt is preparing a “comprehensive and detailed” plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its Palestinian inhabitants. The plan will focus on restoring essential services, rebuilding homes and infrastructure, and fostering economic recovery while ensuring the Palestinian population remains in Gaza.
The timing of the summit is significant, coming shortly after a ceasefire agreement took effect in Gaza on January 19, bringing a temporary halt to Israel’s military offensive, which has left nearly 48,300 Palestinians dead, mostly women and children. Gaza’s infrastructure was heavily damaged, compounding an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The Arab summit is expected to serve as a platform for Arab leaders to unite in rejecting any proposals that threaten Palestinian displacement and undermine their right to self-determination. It will also aim to present a collective Arab vision for Gaza’s future, focusing on reconstruction, stability, and the preservation of Palestinian identity and rights.
As the international community watches closely, the summit presents a pivotal moment for Arab nations to show solidarity with the Palestinian cause and push for a just resolution to the ongoing crisis.