Egypt's plan for Gaza’s reconstruction (presented on 4 March) includes an architectural master plan that carries forward key elements of Israel’s designed destruction of Gaza, with its proposal for (1) a ‘buffer zone’, (2) security corridors, and (3) raid routes.
Mar 13, 2025 17:20(1) Buffer Zone: Since October 2023, Israel has destroyed all structures within 1-1.5km of the Gaza perimeter. Egypt's plan effectively endorses the erasure of Palestinian neighbourhoods within this zone, rezoning them for agricultural, investment, and industrial purposes.
(2) Security corridors: Since October 2023, Israel has constructed a 6km-wide impenetrable barrier along Wadi Gaza and expanded the buffer zone along the border with Egypt. The Egyptian master plan incorporates this de facto reality.
(3) Raid Routes: Over the last 17 months, we identified 13 raid routes created by Israel, extending into the Gaza Strip from Israeli bases east of the perimeter. The Egyptian master plan includes provisions for expanding these routes to the sea, allowing Israel the means to invade and bisect Gaza.
For decades, Israel has routinely destroyed the dense and winding fabric of Palestinian camps and neighbourhoods, which gave Palestinians an advantage that offset the occupier’s technological capabilities. By contrast, the housing blocks proposed in Egypt's plan can be easily invaded and monitored.
