In brief
A meeting in Riyadh will lay the groundwork for an alternative to U.S. control in Gaza, focusing on Palestinian preservation and reconstruction efforts.
Leaders in Gulf Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, are scheduled to convene on Friday in Riyadh to devise a strategic response to President Trump’s contentious proposal aimed at revamping Gaza under U.S. administration. The planned assembly is a precursor to a larger Arab summit set for March 4 in Egypt.Trump sparked widespread outrage across the Arab world with his suggestion last month that the United States could take control over Gaza, intending to transform it into a flourishing destination akin to the "Riviera of the Middle East," while displacing its Palestinian inhabitants to nearby countries like Egypt and Jordan. This proposal drew widespread condemnation, prompting Trump’s advisors to challenge Middle Eastern leaders to present a more viable alternative.In light of this situation, Arab governments are swiftly engaging in discussions to formulate their own response. Countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are coordinating efforts to develop a plan that would see them financially support and oversee reconstruction initiatives in Gaza, all while ensuring that the existing Palestinian populace remains in place and maintaining the potential for an independent Palestinian state.Various ambitious proposals for Gaza’s future have emerged recently, although none have garnered substantial momentum. The most recent suggestion came from Khalaf al-Habtoor, a notable Emirati real estate investor, who unveiled a bold vision for the rapid redevelopment of the Gaza Strip within just a few years, rather than the several decades typically associated with reconstruction projects.
