Includes "international force".. Reuters reveals details of Egyptian plan for Gaza Strip

Reuters said it had seen a draft plan prepared by Egypt regarding the future of the Gaza Strip, to confront US President Donald Trump’s proposal, which calls for displacing the residents of the Strip and turning it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

The agency reported that the Egyptian vision - which is expected to be presented at the emergency summit of the Arab League in Cairo tomorrow, Tuesday - includes the formation of an "international stability force" to maintain security in the Strip and a "good governance assistance mission" to replace the current government in the Strip.

The following are the most important points contained in the draft:

• The "Good Governance Assistance Mission" replaces the government in Gaza for an indefinite temporary period, and is responsible for humanitarian assistance and beginning the reconstruction of the war-torn enclave.
• The plan does not specify who will run the “good governance assistance mission,” but it makes clear that it will draw on the expertise of Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere to help the territory recover as quickly as possible.
• The plan's introduction states that there will be no significant international funding to rebuild Gaza if Hamas remains the dominant political and armed force on the ground and controls local government.
• The draft envisions an "international stabilization force" consisting primarily of Arab states taking over the security role from Hamas, with a new local police force eventually established.
• The Steering and Management Council is responsible for “arranging, directing and supervising” the security and administrative bodies in the Gaza Strip.
• The Steering and Management Council is composed of major Arab countries, members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the United States, Britain, the European Union, member states of the Union, and other parties.
• The plan envisages that the member states of the Steering and Management Council will establish a fund to support the interim governing body in Gaza, and organize donor conferences to provide the necessary contributions to the long-term reconstruction and development plan.
• The draft calls for the Steering Council to coordinate with a civil society advisory council, consisting of academics, NGO leaders and other prominent figures.
• The draft strongly rejects the US proposal for the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

Reuters said it obtained a draft of the Egyptian vision from an official involved in the negotiations on the Gaza Strip, who requested anonymity because the draft has not yet been revealed.

Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the movement had no knowledge of such a plan.

Abu Zuhri stressed that "the next day in Gaza is decided only by the Palestinians... Hamas rejects any attempt to impose projects or create a non-Palestinian administration or the presence of foreign forces on the land of Gaza."

Source: Reuters