Thu Feb 20 14:04:25 UTC 2025: ## Arab Leaders to Meet in Riyadh to Counter Trump’s Gaza Plan
**Riyadh, Saudi Arabia** – Arab leaders will convene in Riyadh tomorrow for an emergency summit to formulate a unified response to US President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to seize control of the Gaza Strip and relocate its population. The meeting, hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will include leaders from Gulf Arab states, Egypt, and Jordan.
The summit, described as “unofficial” by Saudi state media, comes in response to President Trump’s plan, which has drawn widespread international condemnation. While Arab nations are united in their opposition, disagreements persist regarding the future governance of Gaza and the funding of its reconstruction. Experts, like Saudi foreign policy expert Umer Karim, deem this summit the most significant in decades for the Arab world and the Palestinian cause.
The discussions are expected to center around a potential Egyptian plan, mentioned by King Abdullah II of Jordan following his recent meeting with President Trump. Details of the Egyptian plan, outlined by former diplomat Mohamed Hegazy, involve a three-phase reconstruction process spanning three to five years, beginning with immediate debris removal and relocation to safe zones. Subsequent phases will focus on infrastructure rebuilding, funded through an international conference, and ultimately, urban planning and the implementation of a two-state solution.
The United Nations estimates the total cost of rebuilding Gaza at over $53 billion, with over $20 billion needed in the first three years alone. While the Riyadh summit aims to coordinate a counter-strategy to Trump’s proposal, a broader Arab summit scheduled for March 4th in Egypt will focus on formalizing joint Arab action and decisions related to Israel and Palestine.
First Piper 