French President to visit Egypt in April to discuss Arab plan of Gaza reconstruction

CAIRO – 21 March 2025: French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday evening in Brussels that he will visit Egypt on April 7 and 8 to discuss, among other topics, the Arab plan to rebuild Gaza, AFP reported.

Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of a European summit, Macron said, that he will travel to Egypt for a state visit on April 7 and 8, where he will hold a session dedicated to this issue.

Earlier, the French president praised Egypt's efforts in supporting the residents of the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the importance of collective action to prevent further escalation, launch initiatives to promote peace and security, and address the root causes of the current crises.

Israeli forces on Wednesday dropped leaflets in Gaza telling people to leave the enclave voluntarily or otherwise be forcibly displaced, stating that “the world map will not change if all the people of Gaza vanish.”

Although Macron’s visit aims at discussing the post-war reconstruction plan in Gaza, which have been endorsed by Arab Countries on March 4, Israeli forces started, early on Tuesday, waves of airstrikes that have battered Gaza, killing hundreds of individuals across the enclave, the majority of whom are women and children.

Egyptian/Arab proposal seeks to replace a widely condemned initiative by US President Donald Trump, which aimed to "take over" Gaza and permanently displace its two million Palestinian residents to Egypt and Jordan.

The UN estimates that rebuilding Gaza and the occupied West Bank will require more than $53 billion over the next ten years, including $20 billion over the coming three years alone.

The main areas of the Plan:

The plan categorizes areas in Gaza into three primary groups: totally destroyed areas, partially destroyed areas, and those less affected. Additionally, cultural heritage sites and locations of significant events were selected for commemoration.

The plan begins with clearing debris and hazardous materials from the Gaza Strip and emphasizes the importance of utilizing the million tons of rubble generated by the destruction—one-third of which is located in Gaza City. This rubble contains unexploded missiles and bombs, posing a significant risk to the population.

This million tons of rubble—almost twice the size of New York City—is seen as a valuable resource for reconstruction efforts. It may also play a role in land reclamation projects along the coast.

The three phases of the Plan:

The plan outlines three main phases to be executed over five years, beginning with a six-month emergency recovery phase, followed by two additional phases that will concentrate on establishing permanent housing and developing infrastructure. All phases concentrate on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip while the people are still living on their own lands inside the Strip.

The first phase of recovery (six months) emphasizes emergency recovery and the provision of temporary housing for 1.526 million individuals. There are plans for two types of temporary housing: tent camps and temporary mobile houses (Caravans 12 X 3.5 meters- living room, 2 bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen- for a family of 6 persons), with essential services offered at each location.

The primary focus of reconstruction will be along Salah al-Din Road, allowing for simultaneous development across all five governorates.

The second phase, which will conclude in 2030, aims to build 200,000 permanent housing units and restore 60,000 existing units, along with the development of industrial zones and ports.

Major components of the plan include the construction of 460,000 designed to house three million people, the restoration of 20,000 acres of agricultural land within the next two years, and the development of industrial zones and ports.

Additional reporting by Amr Mohamed Kandil