Egypt has developed a post-war plan that would see Palestinians relocated to safe areas within Gaza, where they would be housed in mobile homes while the cities are rebuilt. Under the plan, Hamas would relinquish control to an interim administration of independents until a reformed Palestinian Authority can assume governance.
21:00 Secretary general of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said, during a press conference, that Egypt's Gaza reconstruction plan has become the Arab plan for the strip after its endorsement by the Arab Summit.
20:35 President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said Arab leaders have approved Egypt's plan for Gaza reconstruction.
19:45: Syria’s interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has called on Arab states and the international community to take decisive action against Israeli attacks on Syria and to support Palestinian rights. He reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement, accusing Israel of continuously violating Syrian sovereignty and expanding its occupation.
Speaking at the Extraordinary Arab Summit in Cairo, al-Sharaa strongly rejected any plans for the displacement of Gaza’s residents, calling such proposals a "shameful threat to all Arabs." He emphasized that Palestinians have the right to decide their own fate and condemned settlement expansion as an attempt to erase Palestinian identity.
Al-Sharaa also welcomed Syria’s return to the Arab League, describing it as reaffirming Syria’s unwavering support for just Arab causes. He pledged Syria’s participation in efforts to pressure the international community into taking concrete steps against Israeli aggression and providing humanitarian relief for Gaza.
19:35 Sudan’s Transitional Military Council Chairman, Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, has announced readiness to halt military operations immediately if the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) withdraw and lift their siege on several Sudanese regions, including Darfur.
Speaking on Sudan’s political future, al-Burhan reiterated his commitment to holding an inclusive national dialogue, forming a civilian government, and moving forward toward elections.
On regional issues, al-Burhan reaffirmed Sudan’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause, rejecting any displacement plans for Gaza’s residents. He also backed the Egyptian-Arab plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, emphasizing that rebuilding must not come at the cost of forced relocations.
19:25 The Arab League has confirmed that discussions on the future administration of Gaza are progressing in the right direction, signalling positive developments in post-war governance efforts.
Al Arabiya has also confirmed that the conference on mobilizing funding for Gaza will clarify the financial details of the reconstruction process.
The conference is expected to outline the mechanisms for funding and implementing rebuilding projects, ensuring sustainable support for Palestinians in the Strip as part of the Gaza reconstruction plan.
17:45 President El-Sisi said the summit would resume at 19:15.
17:25 Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to sovereignty, peace, and Arab unity.
"There can be no peace without the liberation of all Lebanese territories," Aoun declared, underscoring Lebanon's firm stance on its land and sovereignty.
He rejected any notion that the destruction of Arab capitals could serve as a victory for the Palestinian cause.
Positioning himself as Lebanese and Arab, Aoun emphasized the importance of openness to the international community.
Lebanon has suffered dramatically and has come to understand that it must never again be a battleground for others' wars, stated Aoun.
He warned against internal factions seeking external support to gain power.
17:18 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his firm rejection of any Israeli measures that undermine Palestinian sovereignty.
Addressing Gaza's post-war reconstruction, Abbas praised the Egyptian-Arab plan for rebuilding the war-torn enclave, emphasizing that any reconstruction efforts must not come at the expense of the Palestinian people's right to remain in their homeland.
"We call on President Trump to support Gaza's reconstruction without displacing its people," he said. He also expressed appreciation for Trump's role in helping secure a ceasefire.
Abbas reaffirmed that the Palestinian Authority (PA) would assume complete control over Gaza, marking a shift in governance following years of internal division.
Regarding Palestinian reconciliation, Abbas acknowledged the ongoing difficulties in achieving unity but vowed to intensify efforts.
In a move aimed at fostering national cohesion, Abbas announced the creation of two new positions: Vice President of the State of Palestine and Vice President of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
17:08 European Council President António Costa reaffirmed the European Union's (EU) commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, emphasizing that any reconstruction efforts in Gaza must uphold security and respect the rights of the Palestinian people.
"We categorically reject any demographic changes in Gaza," Costa stated, addressing concerns over proposals that could lead to the displacement of Palestinians.
"A sustainable future for Gaza must be built on security, stability, and the inalienable rights of its people."
Costa stressed that the EU fully backs mediation efforts to implement the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and called on all parties to honour their commitments.
He also underscored the need for urgent humanitarian intervention, reaffirming support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which has faced increasing pressure amid funding cuts and operational restrictions.
17:05 Jordan's King Abdullah II rejected any forced displacement of Gaza's population and insisted on the urgent need to facilitate humanitarian access.
The Jordanian leader also underscored the importance of strengthening the Palestinian Authority (PA) and reaffirmed Jordan's commitment to the two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace.
"We must work on a single, unified plan to rebuild Gaza," he stressed, highlighting the need for long-term stability and development in the war-torn enclave.
16:55 In his speech, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his support for Egypt's reconstruction plan for Gaza and affirmed the UN's readiness to assist.
He emphasized the need for serious steps to achieve a two-state solution, stressing that Gaza cannot recover while under Israeli occupation. Moreover, Guterres called for strong support for the Palestinian Authority to enable it to govern effectively.
He warned against reducing Palestinian land or forcibly displacing its people and underscored the necessity of a political framework to guide Gaza's recovery and reconstruction. Additionally, he urged the removal of all obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Strip.
Guterres emphasized that the foundation of Gaza's recovery extends beyond physical reconstruction, underscoring the need for dignity, stability, and the rejection of ethnic cleansing.
Highlighting concerns over continued Israeli violations, Guterres called on Israel to halt transgressions in the occupied West Bank.
On the matter of captives and prisoners, Guterres called for mutual releases. "Captives and prisoners must be released from both sides—Palestinian and Israeli," he stated, emphasizing the need for confidence-building measures.
Expanding beyond Gaza, Guterres also touched on regional sovereignty, stressing that "the sovereignty of Syrian and Lebanese territories must be preserved."
He reiterated that Gaza must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state. "Gaza must remain part of the Palestinian state," he affirmed, pushing back against any proposals that would separate the enclave from Palestinian governance.
16:45 Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit described the Extraordinary Arab Summit in Cairo as "a significant event in the history of the Palestinian cause."
"Maintaining the occupation system will only bring temporary and fragile stability," he said, noting that the Palestinian people have lost all means to live a normal life and are living a painful reality due to the Israeli war on Gaza.
He further said that reconstructing the Gaza Strip is possible as long as its people remain on their land, stressing hope to "preserve the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination".
The Arab League chief expressed his strong rejection of the forcible displacement of the Palestinian people, noting that such attempts will not result in peace, as genuine peace can only be attained through the two-state solution.
16:26 In the opening session of the summit, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said the aggression on Gaza is "a stain in the history of humanity," adding that the Israeli war aimed to empty the Strip of its population.
He stressed that Cairo opposes the displacement of Palestinians, saying Cairo cannot participate in such an act of injustice.
He also called for adopting the Egyptian plan to rebuild Gaza, asserting that it should proceed simultaneously with another plan to revive peace based on the two-state solution.
"It is time to present a path to peace that leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy," he asserted.
"I am confident that President Trump is capable of achieving this," he continued.
President El-Sisi announced that Egypt will host an international conference on Gaza reconstruction next month and called on the international community to participate actively.
16:20 In his opening speech, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa emphasized that lasting peace is the only guarantee for the Palestinian people to attain their rights. He also urged support for Egypt's plan for Gaza construction and reaffirmed his rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people.
16:15 The Cairo Summit has officially begun, with an opening speech by the King of Bahrain, who currently chairs the Arab summit.
14:12 Arab leaders gathered for a group photo before the start of the summit.
15:33 Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived at the summit venue and was received by the Egyptian president.
15:22 Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shara arrived at the summit and met President El-Sisi for the first time since Bashar Al-Assad's removal.
15:18 The summit is set to begin shortly, with President El-Sisi starting to welcome delegations at the summit venue.
15:10 You can follow the summit live here.
15:00 Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy president of the UAE, arrived in Cairo, leading an Emirati delegation to the summit.
14:45 On the controversial issue of Palestinian armed groups, the Egyptian plan "based on preserving the rights, dignity, and humanity of the Palestinian people, as well as on the two-state solution" acknowledges that the presence of multiple Palestinian factions carrying arms remains a challenge.
Still, it asserts that "it is something that can be addressed and ultimately resolved." Some Arab countries are demanding "guarantees" that reconstruction funds will not be squandered in another conflict, arguing that rebuilding Gaza is futile if Israel is likely to resume hostilities or if Palestinian factions remain armed.
Disarmament has also emerged as a new condition that Israel imposed to proceed to phase 2 of the ceasefire agreement.
According to Cairo's plan, "disarmament can only be achieved if the root causes are eliminated through a clear political process that restores the rights of the Palestinian people."
"The complete withdrawal of Israel from all Palestinian territories is expected to mark the end of all Palestinian resistance operations related to this," read the plan's text.
14:43 Hamas urged the Arab summit to 'thwart' Gaza displacement plan. In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, Hamas urged Arab leaders to compel the Israeli "fascist" government to halt its crimes against innocent Palestinians, press for the opening of crossings, and allow essential aid into Gaza.
Hamas emphasized that "the continued closure of Gaza's crossings for the third consecutive day, along with the denial of aid and goods, constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and a war crime being committed under the watch of the world... with the goal of achieving political objectives."
A Palestinian boy sits in front of a mural at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. AFP
14:40 President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will chair the Extraordinary Arab Summit, held at the request of the State of Palestine.
14:20 To manage the reconstruction, a committee will be formed to oversee the governance of the Gaza Strip during a six-month transitional phase. The committee will be independent, composed of technocrats and nonpartisan figures, and operate under the Palestinian government's umbrella to facilitate the complete return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, diplomatic sources told Ahram Online.
Egypt and Jordan will work on training Palestinian police personnel in preparation for their deployment in Gaza, "with the potential for additional countries joining in this training effort."
Here is everything you need to know about the plan.
14:13 Saudi Arabia will be represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who arrived today in Cairo to head the kingdom's delegation to the summit, the Saudi Press Agency said.
14:00 According to a draft of Egypt's 91-page reconstruction plan obtained by Ahram Online, the reconstruction's overall cost is estimated at $53 billion. This is divided into $3 billion for the early recovery phase, $20 billion for Phase 1 of reconstruction (including infrastructure, service buildings, 20,000 acres of land reclamation, and permanent housing), and $30 billion for Phase 2 (including completing Phase 1 and building industrial zones, fishing ports, a seaport, and an airport).
13:00 According to Arab diplomatic sources, the Cairo Summit statement will adopt Egypt's reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip. The plan was developed in coordination with Palestine and other Arab countries and supported by studies from the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Speaking to Sky News TV channel, the sources revealed that, according to the draft statement, "Arab countries will work on providing all forms of financial, material, and political support for the plan's implementation and urge the international community and international and regional funding institutions to provide the necessary support for this plan swiftly."
Sources familiar with the discussions told Ahram Online earlier that Egypt's reconstruction plan consists of three phases: first, immediate relief and shelter for those displaced by Israel's war; second, clearing the tons of rubble from Gaza's destruction and using recycled materials to support rebuilding; and finally, restoring permanent housing and infrastructure. The plan will be carried out in five years, beginning with a six-month recovery period.
12:25 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the key figure in this summit, arrived on Monday before the foreign ministers' meeting. Abbas will deliver a speech at the summit addressing the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Also present are King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania.
Jordan's King Abdullah II, who, along with Egypt, rejected Trump's attempt to push him into accepting the relocation of Palestinians expelled from Gaza, will lead his country's delegation.
Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah will represent Kuwait at the summit.
The Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that President Kais Saied has appointed Foreign Minister Mohamed Al-Nafti to head the Tunisian delegation.
Earlier, the Algerian News Agency reported that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has opted not to attend personally but has entrusted Foreign Minister Ahmed Ataf with representing Algeria at the summit.
12:00 Newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, accompanied by Foreign Minister Yusuf Rassi, arrived in Cairo this morning from Riyadh to attend the Arab Summit.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who assumed office after ousting Bashar Al-Assad, has also arrived in Cairo for his first visit.
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid was among the first to arrive in Cairo last night.
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