• In its Gaza plan, Egypt writes: “There will be no major international funding for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gaza if Hamas remains the dominant and armed political element on the ground, controlling local governance.”

This is why Cairo proposed to remove Hamas and replace it with interim bodies controlled by Arab, Muslim and Western states.

• In Cairo, the Arab League adopted a project to rebuild Gaza based on the Egyptian plan. The final text consists of about a hundred pages. It acts to sideline Hamas and increases the aid needed for reconstruction from $20 billion to $53 billion. Nearly half of Gaza’s residents are expected to be transferred to seven security zones while construction begins.

For the first six months, the government is expected to be assumed by a committee of 20 technocrats not affiliated with political parties, acting within the framework of the Palestinian Authority. Then elections are expected to be held, for the first time in two decades. The Palestinian police force is expected to be supported by Egyptian and Jordanian police.

• The plan will be submitted to the United States by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

• President of the European Council António Costa commented: “Together, we must implement this plan. Together, the European Union, its partners in the Arab world and the international community. It is in difficult times that you can count on predictable and reliable partners and friends. Recent developments in the Middle East have made the Arab League and its members more relevant than ever to the European Union. Our support for the Palestinian Authority remains unwavering. The European Union supports the Palestinian Authority’s reform agenda. This will play a crucial role in the governance of Gaza.”

☞ It seems that the United States will withdraw from the Middle East, excluding Israel, as it does from Europe. The Arab states will be left to their own devices, just like those in the EU. The latter is already running to fill the role of the “Americans” in the region.

This is the editorial from our paywalled “Voltaire, international newsletter”, n°123. For more information, do not hesitate to subscribe: 500€ per year.