Gaza, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly speaking during a G20 session in Johannesburg. Photo courtesy of Egyptian cabinet.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly affirmed Egypt’s readiness to host an international conference on early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza during his speech at the G20 session on “Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth, Building Economies, Trade, Development Financing and Debt Challenges,” held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
PM Madbouly delivered Egypt’s statement on behalf of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, in the presence of several kings, presidents, and heads of government.
In his speech, Madbouly noted the strong link between peace and development, recalling the contribution of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit to efforts to end the war in Gaza and to opening new prospects for a more stable, secure, and prosperous Middle East.
Madbouly welcomed the UN Security Council resolution on Gaza adopted on 17 November, stressing the need to immediately begin implementing the second phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to address the humanitarian crisis in the Strip.
This includes the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, the launch of early recovery efforts, and the start of reconstruction, alongside work toward a just, final settlement of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.
He announced Egypt’s readiness to host the international early-recovery and reconstruction conference for Gaza and invited participating states to take part actively in the event.
The two-year-old Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 70,000 Palestinians and injured more than 173,000, mostly women and children, damaged or destroyed 83 percent of homes and buildings in the strip, leaving behind 61 million tons of debris.
After the most recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the US, was agreed to in October, Egyptian bulldozers started removing debris and rubble to open highways and roads to clear the way for the reconstruction of the war-destroyed strip.
Egypt has prepared an extensive reconstruction plan in Gaza, which was adopted by the Arab countries during the Arab Summit in March 2025.
In his speech, PM Madbouly thanked South Africa for its warm hospitality and for successfully organizing the first G20 summit hosted on African soil.
He also expressed Egypt’s appreciation for South Africa’s leadership of the group and its continued support for African priorities.
Addressing the session, Madbouly said the current global context is marked by unprecedented challenges, underscoring the central role of the G20 in addressing key global economic issues — foremost among them reforming the international financial architecture to better meet the development needs of the Global South.
He highlighted the need to expand access to concessional financing through new financial mechanisms, while strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of existing ones.
He also called for improving the business models and lending capacities of international financial institutions and multilateral development banks, stressing the importance of broader representation for developing countries within global economic governance structures.
Madbouly emphasized the urgent need to reform the world’s “complex and fragmented” debt system by establishing comprehensive and sustainable debt-management mechanisms that account for the circumstances of low- and middle-income economies.
He further underscored the importance of renewing global commitment to multilateralism and safeguarding a rules-based trading system, with the World Trade Organization playing a central role in promoting trade as a key driver of sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Madbouly concluded by expressing hope that the summit would yield practical and constructive outcomes that meet the aspirations of people around the world for a more stable and equitable future.
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