Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly speaks during a the weekly cabinet meeting. Photo courtesy of Egyptian cabinet Facebook page.
Speaking at the Egyptian cabinet’s weekly press conference, PM Madbouly emphasized that Cairo is working on formulating the overarching framework for Gaza’s reconstruction plan in collaboration with universities and specialized Egyptian consultancy firms.
“From a technical and engineering perspective, we possess the full capability to restore Gaza to a condition even better than its pre-destruction state within three years,” Madbouly affirmed.
He also noted that Egypt has considered assessments from international institutions, including the World Bank, in developing Gaza’s reconstruction plan, which follows phased measures.
Furthermore, the prime minister stressed that Egyptian, Arab, and Islamic firms have the required expertise to complete the reconstruction, affirming that “three years is sufficient to rebuild Gaza.”
Since U.S. President Donald Trump announced his proposal in early February, calling for Washington’s control over the Gaza Strip and the permanent displacement of Palestinians without the right of return, Egypt firmly rejected the plan.
In response, Cairo also swiftly mobilized Arab, Islamic, and international support to counter the initiative, emphasizing that such a move would effectively liquidate the Palestinian cause and eliminate the two-state solution.
According to an assessment published Tuesday by the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank, rebuilding Gaza will require over $50 billion.
The Interim Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (IRDNA) reported that over 292,000 homes had been destroyed or damaged, 95 percent of hospitals are no longer operational, and the local economy has shrunk by 83 percent.
A UN damage assessment from last month estimated that clearing the more than 50 million tonnes of rubble left by Israel’s bombardment could take 21 years.
Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian office reported that over 1.8 million people in Gaza are currently in need of emergency shelter.
Arab Summit in Cairo
During his address at the weekly cabinet press conference, Madbouly reaffirmed that, as part of Egypt’s diplomatic efforts to support the Palestinian cause, the upcoming Arab Summit on 4 March in Cairo will prioritize formulating a comprehensive vision for Gaza’s reconstruction as one of its key outcomes.
The summit aims to formulate a unified Arab stance against Trump’s recent proposal to forcibly displace the native Palestinian population to Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab and Muslim countries to create a "Riviera in the Middle East."
Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinians, and other Arab nations have categorically rejected all of Trump’s displacement proposals, reaffirming that the only just resolution remains the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 4 June 1967 borders.
Egypt has consistently vowed to mobilize its resources to aid in Gaza’s reconstruction, emphasizing its dedication to collaborating with regional and international partners to rebuild the strip and prevent the displacement of Palestinians from their historic land.
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