Gaza 'Next Day' Reconstruction Plan Discussed as Ceasefire Tensions Rise

Political and security officials met in Cyprus and Cairo to shape the "next day" phase for Gaza, a U.S.-backed plan that would begin reconstruction within three to six months even without Hamas disarming. Participants included members of the Gaza Peace Council, former British prime minister Tony Blair, Russian envoy Nikolai Meladininov and officials from Egypt, Israel and the United States. The plan envisions temporary housing, schools, health facilities and job opportunities for tens of thousands of residents, with internal security handled by a Palestinian police force trained in Egypt and an international stabilisation contingent.

Parallel Israeli assessments warn that the council, led by U.S. President Donald Trump, could soon declare Hamas in violation of the ceasefire. Such a declaration would permit Israel to resume broader military operations in Gaza, a prospect tied to the upcoming Knesset elections. Hamas has submitted a written response to the council’s proposals, preserving certain security and personnel arrangements while seeking a mechanism for storing and accounting for weapons under Palestinian oversight.