Convincing Arab and Muslim countries to allocate billions of dollars to rebuild Gaza could be a challenge for US President Donald Trump, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
The UN estimates the cost of rebuilding Gaza at $70 billion.
Saudi Arabia is constrained by falling oil revenues and the end of non-refundable grants, the UAE is demanding “political clarity” and the complete disarmament of Hamas, a group recognised as a terrorist group in the United States and the European Union, while Qatar insists on guarantees that Israel will comply with the terms of the agreement.
All sides are seeking a say in the wider governance of the territory.
The agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip was signed by the leaders of the US, Egypt, Turkey and Qatar in Cairo on 13 October. Before that, Trump thanked Arab and Muslim countries “for their dedication to the safe reconstruction of Gaza” and pledged money to rebuild the territory during a speech to Israel’s parliament in Jerusalem.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News that Gulf countries will make the biggest economic contribution to the reconstruction of Gaza, but Washington will be required to “engage diplomatically.”
In addition, Trump told White House reporters that an international military contingent will soon be deployed in the Gaza Strip to maintain stability. The president did not give an exact timeline, noting that it would happen “fairly quickly.”
According to The Times of Israel, the stabilisation force will be led by Egypt. It will also include troops from Azerbaijan, Indonesia and Turkey. No European or British troops are expected to participate.
The US insists that the corps will have a UN mandate, but will not act as a classic peacekeeping mission, but on the model of the international forces in Haiti fighting organised crime.
The deployment of such a contingent is one of the provisions of Trump’s Gaza settlement plan.