European leaders have expressed support for an Arab-backed proposal to rebuild Gaza, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to resettle its population in Egypt and Jordan. In a joint statement on Saturday, 8 March , the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and the U.K. described the proposal as a “realistic” path forward, stating that it offers “swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions” in Gaza. The USD 53 billion (EGP 2.7 trillion) plan, presented by Egypt and endorsed by Arab nations, outlines a five-year reconstruction strategy while ensuring that Palestinians remain in their homeland. It also calls for international peacekeepers to be deployed and for Gaza’s governance to be temporarily overseen by a committee of independent experts under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority. The plan was put forward amid growing concerns over the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which expired on 1 March. Israel has since blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, pressuring Hamas to accept a new U.S.-backed truce extension. Hamas, however, insists that the agreed-upon second phase of the ceasefire, which includes a full Israeli withdrawal, must proceed. Hamas has…
