At a summit in Egypt, Arab leaders endorsed a five-year, $53 billion plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its Palestinian residents, aiming to counter a proposal from US President Donald Trump to take control of the region. The plan has drawn criticism from Israel, which continues its blockade on Gaza, blocking essential supplies, including food and medicine. The White House reaffirmed Trump’s stance on the Gaza Strip, which remains at odds with the Arab initiative.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group controlling Gaza, has expressed its support for the Arab plan, particularly welcoming the call for new legislative and presidential elections. The ongoing conflict has led to devastating casualties, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting at least 48,388 Palestinian deaths due to Israeli military actions. An updated toll from Gaza’s government indicates that at least 61,709 Palestinians have died, with many more wounded and missing. In contrast, the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel resulted in 1,139 Israeli deaths, and more than 200 people remain captive.