A Reconstruction Plan Against a Neo-Colonial Vision
As the Arab League adopts an ambitious reconstruction plan for Gaza, Donald Trump and Israel push forward a neo-colonial vision for the Palestinian territory. A project that not only aims to eliminate Hamas but also seeks to reshape Gaza without its people.
An Unprecedented Reconstruction Plan for Gaza
Gathered in Cairo, the leaders of the Arab League have adopted a $53 billion, five-year plan to rebuild Gaza without Hamas while ensuring that its 2.4 million Palestinian residents remain on their land.
The objective is clear: to rebuild Gaza by 2030, erasing the scars of Israeli bombardments by clearing 50 million tons of debris, neutralising unexploded ordnance, and reconstructing vital infrastructure. The plan also includes the establishment of an interim administration made up of Palestinian technocrats until a viable political transition emerges.
Trump and the Illusion of the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’
True to his business-oriented mindset, Donald Trump proposes expelling Palestinians to transform Gaza into the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’, a luxury seaside resort for Western investors and Israeli elites.
This plan follows a well-worn colonial playbook: emptying a land of its indigenous people to turn it into a privatised leisure zone. A blatant act of political and economic interference that disregards the fundamental right of Palestinians to remain on their land.
Israel and the US: A Calculated Rejection of the Arab Plan
Israel and Washington have immediately rejected the Arab reconstruction plan, arguing that it is a missed opportunity to embrace the US proposal.
The United States openly supports the idea of forcibly relocating Gazans to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, an act in blatant violation of international law. Meanwhile, Israel seeks to maintain Gaza under complete control, preventing it from achieving economic or political autonomy. The aim is to keep the territory neither too devastated nor too prosperous, ensuring a continuous pretext for repression and occupation.
A Clash Between Two Visions: Arab Sovereignty vs. Western Domination
The confrontation between the Arab plan and Trump’s proposal highlights a clash of paradigms:
- The Egyptian-led plan, backed by the UN, seeks to guarantee Palestinian sovereignty without Israeli oversight.
- Trump’s proposal, on the other hand, follows the logic of his ‘Deal of the Century’, attempting to impose an economic solution on a political crisis while erasing Palestinian presence.
The Arab initiative signals an effort by Middle Eastern nations to reclaim control over Gaza’s future, resisting both Western interests and Israeli pressure.
What Lies Ahead for Gaza?
The upcoming emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Saudi Arabia will be crucial: will Muslim nations rally behind this reconstruction plan in the face of Western opposition?
The question of funding remains pivotal:
- Who will actually finance this reconstruction effort?
- Will Israel allow Gaza to prosper under Arab leadership?
- How can this initiative withstand sabotage from Washington and Tel Aviv?
Conclusion: A Battle Between Interference and Sovereignty
The Arab reconstruction plan is a direct response to Israel’s destruction and decades of blockade. Meanwhile, Trump’s ‘Riviera of the Middle East’ vision exposes a project to erase the Palestinian people from their own land.
This is more than just a reconstruction effort, it is a battle for a people’s sovereignty against a new form of Western imperialism. Gaza is once again at the centre of a geopolitical struggle, caught between Arab aspirations for independence and the relentless ambitions of American and Israeli hegemony…
G.S.
