He emphasised that the upcoming conference aims to mobilise international support to restore essential services and stability for people in the war-torn territory.

Mustafa said that this conference will serve as a platform for mobilising international resources and partnerships, reaffirming the continued commitment to reconstruction efforts.

He added that the conference will address political, as well as financial, technical, security, and governance, aspects of Gaza.

The prime minister underscored the Palestinian ownership of the entire process, stressing that Gaza’s reconstruction must be led by Palestinians, with strong Arab and global support.

The Palestinian PM highlighted the Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza's early recovery and reconstruction that was adopted by the Cairo extraordinary summit in March

Mustafa reaffirmed the importance of Palestinian unity, stating that Gaza and the West Bank must remain integrated under one national authority.

He added that the Palestinian Authority has the right to govern Gaza as part of a sovereign, independent state, and that Palestinian police will operate in the strip in accordance with national laws.

The plan seeks to reinforce geographic continuity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank within a unified Palestinian state based on sovereignty, unity, and the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. 

The PM made clear that the Palestinian government does not seek external guarantees regarding its right to govern Gaza. He reaffirmed that Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian territory under international law and the Oslo Accords. 

While the Israeli occupation remains a reality in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, it cannot prevent Palestinians from exercising their legitimate rights in accordance with international resolutions.

Vision and objectives

During the presser, Mustafa outlined a comprehensive national plan for the reconstruction and recovery of the Gaza Strip, following two years of devastating war. 

Prepared by Palestinian experts with Arab and international support, the plan represents a roadmap for rebuilding Gaza in partnership with Arab states and international partners, aimed at transforming the territory into a functional and unified part of the Palestinian state, in accordance with UN resolutions and the recent New York Declaration.

He said that the government’s vision for Gaza’s reconstruction goes beyond infrastructural rebuilding. It focuses on empowering communities, and improving governance.

The initiative seeks to lay down a unified framework for recovery, reconstruction, and development that ensures efficiency, transparency, and coordination among national institutions and international partners.

According to the plan, rebuilding Gaza is not limited to constructing hospitals, schools, and infrastructure but also includes reviving social and economic life.

He affirmed that the Palestinian government remains determined to rebuild, recover, and preserve hope and human dignity for the Palestinian people, despite challenges.

Structure of recovery plan

The recovery plan will be implemented through Palestinian ministries in close cooperation with international and Arab partners. It spans a five-year period divided into three main phases designed to move Gaza from emergency recovery to sustainable development.

The initial six-month phase, which will begin once a sustained ceasefire is confirmed and will focus on immediate priorities such as debris removal, restoration of critical infrastructure, rebuilding of housing units, providing cash assistance, creating job opportunities, and supporting small enterprises.

The phase, estimated to cost $3.5 billion will also include measures to reactivate the banking sector, education, and health services, as well as rehabilitation programs for persons with disabilities.

The second phase, which will last around three years, is expected to cost about $30 billion, while the final phase will complete long-term infrastructure and institutional projects, bringing total estimated needs to $67 billion.

He said that earlier estimates had put the reconstruction cost at $53 billion as of October 2024, but unfortunately, that figure has since risen to $67 billion.

Financial framework 

According to Mustafa, the plan covers 56 programmes across 18 sectors and hundreds of projects, addressing administrative, logistics, financial, and security requirements.

The programmes were designed based on experiences from previous reconstruction efforts and international best practices, ensuring accountability and effective use of funds.

The financial arrangements will include the creation of a dedicated Palestinian-managed fund to oversee the disbursement and monitoring of reconstruction resources. 

This fund will operate with full transparency to guarantee proper management and allocation of financial aid.

Governance and institutional role

The Palestinian PM emphasized that effective governance in Gaza is a cornerstone of stability and recovery. 

Therefore, the plan calls for reactivating legitimate Palestinian institutions in Gaza in accordance with international law and ensuring that public institutions in the fields of education, health, and civil registry are strengthened, not replaced by parallel or temporary bodies.

He also noted that efforts are underway to support education and the economy as part of a broader national reform programme.

The Palestinian PM noted that despite the blockade, the Palestinian Authority continues providing health, education, and other services in Gaza. 

The process will be carried out under the National Reform Program, which is based on transparency, accountability, and institutional performance. 

He emphasised the importance of ensuring the integrity of institutional cooperation between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, calling it a national priority.

Mustafa called for Israel to meet its obligations by withdrawing gradually, reopening crossings, and allowing aid and reconstruction materials to enter.

Regarding the disarmament of Hamas, he affirmed that Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian state, where there is no need for any other weapons — as it envisions one state, one government, one law, and one legitimate security force.

On Monday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced that Egypt will host the Cairo Conference for Early Recovery and Reconstruction in Gaza in November, following the recent ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas..

During a meeting with several world leaders ahead of the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace, El-Sisi noted that Egypt and Jordan are training Palestinian police officers and called for continued European support to expand the programme.

In June, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had said hosting the reconstruction conference is part of a wider Arab-Islamic plan, endorsed at the Extraordinary Arab Summit in Cairo on 4 March and later supported by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the European Union (EU), China, and Russia.

He added that the conference will be organized in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations, and the World Bank.

Abdelatty confirmed that all preparatory work, including the agenda, expected outcomes, and logistical arrangements, had been completed.