Gaza Arab plan could include up to $20 billion in regional contributions, sources report

 The proposal calls for a Palestinian committee to govern Gaza, excluding Hamas.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to travel to Riyadh on Thursday to discuss an Arab plan for Gaza that could involve up to $20 billion in regional contributions for reconstruction, according to two Egyptian security sources.

Arab states are set to review a post-war proposal aimed at countering a U.S. plan, initially put forward by former President Donald Trump, which sought to redevelop Gaza under U.S. oversight and relocate Palestinians—an idea that has been widely rejected by regional leaders.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar will meet in Riyadh to finalize details of the Arab initiative before presenting it at an Arab summit scheduled for March 4 in Cairo, four sources with knowledge of the discussions said. A separate meeting of Arab leaders, including representatives from Jordan, Egypt, the UAE, and Qatar, is expected in Saudi Arabia, though the exact date remains unconfirmed.

Arab states were alarmed by Trump’s reported proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt while transforming the strip into a "Middle East Riviera." The plan was swiftly rejected by Cairo and Amman, with regional officials viewing it as a destabilizing move.

The Arab proposal, largely based on an Egyptian framework, calls for a national Palestinian committee to govern Gaza without Hamas involvement. It also envisions international participation in reconstruction while ensuring Palestinians are not displaced abroad.

A regional financial contribution of around $20 billion is being considered as a potential incentive for U.S. acceptance of the plan, according to Emirati academic Abdulkhaleq Abdullah.

"Trump is transactional, so $20 billion would resonate well with him," Abdullah said. "This would benefit many U.S. and Israeli companies."

Egyptian sources told Reuters that discussions regarding the exact financial commitment from the region are ongoing. The plan envisions a three-year timeline for reconstruction, sources added.

"My conversations with Arab leaders, most recently King Abdullah, have convinced me they have a realistic understanding of their role," U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal told reporters in Tel Aviv during a visit to Israel on Monday.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that Tel Aviv is awaiting further details on the proposal but emphasized that any plan allowing Hamas to maintain a presence in Gaza would be unacceptable.

"When we hear it, we will know how to address it," he said.