By our correspondent
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has called for the immediate launch of an early recovery and reconstruction plan for Gaza, emphasizing that the enclave’s residents must not be displaced.
Sisi made the statement during a meeting in Cairo with Ammar Al-Hakim, a prominent Iraqi cleric and politician, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.
Both leaders underscored the need for a phased implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, including the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees, and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
They rejected any proposals to relocate Palestinians, warning that such moves could destabilize the region and undermine the Palestinian cause, Xinhua news agency reported.
They also reaffirmed that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders remains the only viable path to lasting peace.
Egypt has been actively supporting Gaza’s war-stricken population by facilitating medical treatment for the injured, providing humanitarian aid, and advancing reconstruction efforts.
According to Egypt’s press center, 878 patients and 2,400 accompanying individuals have crossed into Egypt through the Rafah border since the January 19 Hamas-Israel ceasefire took effect. Additionally, 8,000 aid trucks carrying 150,000 tons of supplies and more than 20,000 tents have been sent into Gaza.
Egyptian officials have proposed a three-phase reconstruction plan, expected to take three to five years, to rebuild critical infrastructure and housing in Gaza, North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer confirmed to Xinhua.
The initiative comes amid international criticism of a controversial U.S. proposal that suggests redeveloping Gaza while relocating its population to neighboring countries, including Egypt.