White House Rejects Arab-Led Gaza Reconstruction Plan

The White House has firmly rejected a post-war reconstruction plan for Gaza proposed by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab League, instead reaffirming support for President Donald Trump’s controversial vision to relocate the enclave’s 2 million residents and rebuild the territory under U.S. oversight, widely considered to be a form of ethnic cleansing.

The Arab-backed initiative, unveiled Tuesday following a recent Arab League summit in Cairo, calls for an independent committee of Palestinian technocrats to temporarily govern Gaza before transferring control to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA). The plan explicitly opposes displacing Palestinians, emphasizing their right to remain in the territory.

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes dismissed the proposal, arguing that it fails to account for Gaza’s current state. “The Arab plan does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable, with residents unable to humanely live in a territory littered with debris and unexploded ordnance,” Hughes stated. “President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas, ensuring lasting security and stability.”

The White House’s stance aligns with Trump’s long-standing proposal to resettle Palestinians elsewhere and reconstruct the Strip under a U.S.-led framework, a plan critics have condemned as a violation of international law and Palestinian rights. The Arab League plan, however, seeks to preserve Palestinian sovereignty, rejecting external administration and advocating for PA governance after Hamas’s removal.

While Hughes indicated openness to “further talks to bring peace and prosperity to the region,” the divide highlights broader tensions over Gaza’s future. The Arab proposal underscores regional leaders’ push to block Palestinian displacement and cement Palestinian autonomy, while the U.S. insists on dismantling Hamas as a precondition for reconstruction.

The dispute emerges amid a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where months of conflict have left critical infrastructure destroyed and displaced over 80% of the population. United Nations agencies warn that reconstruction could take decades without immediate, coordinated international intervention.

Egypt, a key mediator, has not publicly responded to the U.S. rejection but has previously stressed the urgency of a unified Arab approach to prevent further destabilization. Analysts suggest the deadlock risks prolonging Gaza’s suffering, with political posturing overshadowing urgent humanitarian needs.