Trump proposes Role in Gaza Reconstruction, Eyes Regional Peace Efforts
cairo, Egypt – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has outlined a vision for his involvement in post-conflict Gaza, proposing to chair a board overseeing a vast reconstruction program and a Palestinian technocratic government. The proclamation came during a conference in Cairo focused on gazas future, where Trump also suggested Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi join the board and floated the possibility of a role for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, pending regional support.
This marks Trump’s first meeting in eight years with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, following a recent ban preventing Abbas from attending the UN General Assembly. The meeting included a handshake and a thumbs-up gesture from Trump, signaling a potential shift in approach.
French President Emmanuel Macron, a key advocate for a two-state solution, hailed Abbas’s attendance as “a very good signal… It’s a recognition of the role the Palestinian Authority has to play as a legitimate entity.” Macron emphasized the need for the Palestinian Authority to undertake reforms and pledged European support for governance. He also underscored the importance of addressing the situation in the West Bank, citing concerns over Israeli settlements, and reiterated the necessity of a path towards a formal Palestinian state alongside Israel.
“We must ‘make the connection between Gaza and the West Bank’ and ‘ensure that there is a path to two states, the only political perspective that truly allows for lasting peace,'” Macron stated. He indicated Europe woudl increase training for Palestinian police in Gaza, but clarified France would not directly participate in the planned stabilization force, suggesting contributions from regional forces, potentially including Indonesia, within a UN-led framework.
Macron also announced france will co-host a humanitarian aid conference for Gaza with Egypt “in the coming weeks.”
The developments come as Trump publicly declared the “end of Gaza war,” signaling a broader ambition to facilitate peace in the region.The proposals represent a notable, though preliminary, step towards defining the international role in Gaza’s recovery and future governance.
