Egypt has put forward a plan for the future governance of Gaza that would exclude Hamas and establish an interim administrative body backed by Arab, Muslim, and Western nations, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.
The proposal, set to be presented at an Arab League summit on Tuesday, seeks to counter a controversial plan reportedly envisioned by former US President Donald Trump, which suggested the removal of Gaza’s Palestinian population. Cairo’s plan, however, does not clarify whether its implementation would precede or follow a permanent peace agreement to end the war triggered by the October 7, 2023, attacks.
The fate of Gaza’s governance remains one of the key unresolved questions in diplomatic negotiations. Hamas has rejected any externally imposed solution, insisting that the future of the enclave should be determined by Palestinians alone.
The Egyptian proposal, which does not provide details on how Hamas would be removed from power, also remains vague on key aspects such as the financing of Gaza’s reconstruction and the specifics of its governance structure.
Interim administration proposed
Under the Egyptian plan, a Governance Assistance Mission would replace the Hamas-led administration in Gaza for an unspecified interim period. This entity would be responsible for humanitarian relief and overseeing the reconstruction of the war-torn enclave.
"There will be no major international funding for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gaza if Hamas remains the dominant and armed political element on the ground controlling local governance," the draft document states.
Egypt, along with Jordan and Gulf states, has been working on a diplomatic initiative for nearly a month to counter Trump’s proposal. While Egypt’s plan is seen as the most viable, it remains unclear whether Arab leaders will rally behind it.
The document does not specify who would lead the governance mission but mentions that it would "draw on the expertise of Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere to help Gaza recover as quickly as possible."
Rejection of forced displacement
The draft also firmly opposes any US-backed initiative that involves the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, a scenario that countries such as Egypt and Jordan view as a severe security threat.
The details of the Egyptian proposal were shared with Reuters by an official involved in the negotiations, who requested anonymity as the plan has not been made public yet.
Hamas dismisses proposal
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri denied knowledge of any such plan, telling Reuters, "The day after in Gaza must only be decided by the Palestinians. Hamas rejects any attempt to impose projects or any form of non-Palestinian administration, or the presence of any foreign forces on the land of the Gaza Strip."
Notably, the draft does not mention future elections in Gaza, leaving uncertainty about the long-term political framework.
Egypt’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Similarly, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, whose approval is seen as crucial to ensuring any reconstruction efforts are not undone, has yet to provide a response.
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