Damien Phillips

Egypt’s Gaza peace plan will never work

Ruins of the northern Gaza Strip (Credit: Getty images)

Another week, another peace plan for a seemingly intractable conflict. This time it’s Gaza’s turn, with the launch of a new peace and reconstruction plan for the rubble-strewn Strip. The proposal, created by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab League (a 22-strong group of Arab states) at a summit in Cairo, provides an alternative to President Trump’s ‘Gaza Riviera’ model.

Trump’s idea to place Gaza under US control, depopulate it to redevelop the enclave, and decant its residents to nearby Egypt and Jordan was rejected out of hand by the Arab states. The US has signalled that it is open to hearing what an Arab plan for Gaza’s post-war reconstruction would be. So, is this new scheme any better?

Lacking Israeli and US support, more work on this plan this looks like a fool’s errand

In some ways, the new proposal is a worthy effort that seeks to grapple with the practicalities of rebuilding what has been described as an ‘apocalyptic landscape’, ravaged by fifteen months of intense fighting.

Get Britain's best politics newsletters

Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in