The US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, unveiled the outlines of a comprehensive economic plan for the Gaza Strip, based on the financial pledges announced by President Donald Trump. Witkoff clarified that the allocated funding will primarily be directed towards implementing massive projects in the housing and public transportation sectors, noting that these steps are part of a comprehensive vision to reshape the living reality in the Strip after the end of military operations.
During the founding meeting of what is known as the 'Peace Council' in Washington, US President Donald Trump affirmed his commitment to providing $10 billion to support this initiative. Reports indicated that nine other countries pledged to contribute a total of $7 billion, raising the current available funding ceiling to $17 billion, with official expectations to double this figure to $34 billion in later stages of the reconstruction process.
In a related context concerning security arrangements, five countries expressed their preliminary readiness to participate in an international force aimed at ensuring stability within the Gaza Strip and implementing development projects. Witkoff described these moves as 'inspiring,' emphasizing that the top priority will be to remove the massive rubble left by the war and prepare the ground for what he called the anticipated 'renaissance of Gaza' under direct international and American supervision.
On the other hand, controversial statements emerged from within the Israeli Knesset, where extremist Knesset member Zvi Sukkot called for the evacuation of the Gaza Strip's Palestinian residents, estimated at two million people. Sukkot claimed that the continued presence of residents poses a security risk, calling for what he described as 'encouraging voluntary migration' as a means to circumvent international laws prohibiting forced displacement, considering that tunnels still represent an ongoing threat.
These political and financial developments come at a time when Gaza is suffering from an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe due to the ongoing war since October 2023, which has resulted in the martyrdom and injury of hundreds of thousands, most of whom are women and children. Field statistics confirm that the Israeli war machine has destroyed nearly 90% of vital facilities and infrastructure, making the proposed reconstruction projects a tremendous challenge for the international community.
With these funds, we will be able to remove the rubble and prepare Gaza for a renaissance, and this is just the beginning.
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Washington reveals details of a $17 billion plan for Gaza reconstruction and Israeli calls for displacement