Gaza Reconstruction Plans Advance Despite Israeli Objections to Broad Framework
Israel rejects the broad 15-point Gaza reconstruction plan, approving only the Green Rafah pilot. Meanwhile, international officials state that reconstruction will cover all of Gaza progressively.
Israel has reiterated that the 15-point plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip is unacceptable in its current format, maintaining that only the "Green Rafah" pilot—a demilitarized zone designated for targeted reconstruction—has been officially approved. Despite Jerusalem's objections, documentation obtained by the press reveals that reconstruction preparations are advancing across the entire coastal enclave.
International Plans and the National Committee for Gaza Management
At recent international forums, including the Peace Council summit, senior officials slated to manage post-war Gaza made it clear that reconstruction blueprints encompass the entire 365 square kilometers of the Strip. Dr. Ali Shaath, head of the National Committee for Gaza Management (NCAG), explicitly addressed the scope of the initiative during the conference.
"The National Committee is fortunately color-blind. We do not distinguish between the green zone, the red zone, the yellow zone, the orange zone, and so on," Dr. Shaath stated, adding that operations will proceed progressively from Rafah to Khan Yunis, the central camps, and Gaza City alongside a phased IDF withdrawal.
US Middle East Envoy Nickolay Mladenov also addressed the conference, confirming that ongoing talks with Israel regarding the plan are progressing despite the political sensitivities surrounding upcoming elections. Mladenov noted that discussions concerning demilitarization and the training of a new Gaza police force—with approximately 5,000 candidates awaiting Israeli approval for training in Egypt—are moving forward in coordination with international forces.
Security Concerns and Opposition
On the ground, Egyptian contractors are already conducting topographical surveys, and preparations for "Green Rafah" are underway on the ruins of the former settlement of Etsmona. However, critics within Israel's envelope communities warn that proceeding with reconstruction before Hamas is fully dismantled poses severe security risks, potentially constraining the IDF's freedom of operation.
