Palestinian Authority chief welcomes Egyptian plan to rebuild Gaza, urges Trump to back it

By Reuters and ToI Staff 4 March 2025, 5:59 pm 4 Edit

Arab reporters watch a screen displaying Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, right, receiving Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, at the press center hall of the emergency Arab summit at Egypt's New Administrative Capital, just outside Cairo, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says he welcomes an Egyptian plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip and urges US President Donald Trump to support such a plan, which would not involve displacing residents of the enclave.

Speaking at an Arab League summit that aims to counter Trump’s “Gaza Riviera” plan, Abbas — who has been ruling since winning the last Palestinian national elections in 2005 — also says he is ready to hold presidential and parliamentary elections if circumstances allow, asserting that the PA is the only legitimate governing and military force in the West Bank and Gaza. Numerous attempts have been made over the last decade to hold national Palestinian elections, but they were always called off.

Abbas says he will issue a general amnesty for all those dismissed from the Fatah movement which rules the West Bank.