Gaza reconstruction: Cyprus has a plan

Cyprus has presented a “very specific” six-point plan on Gaza’s recovery to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, ahead of a gathering of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday. The country’s President, Nikos Christodoulides, for the first time discussed the details with Euronews.

The proposal, elaborated on in a Euronews exclusive, is designed to prop up United States President Donald Trump’s broader 20-point peace initiative, unveiled at the end of September.

First discussed with world leaders during the “Gaza Peace Summit” in Sharm-el-Sheikh in mid-October, it involves repurposing the so-called ‘Amalthea’ corridor to both “extract rubble” from the territory and deliver materials for its eventual reconstruction.

The humanitarian maritime passageway was a joint initiative originally set up by Cyprus with the backing of Western and Arab nations in 2024 to deliver life-saving aid to Gaza.

“When (…) the conditions are there, reconstruction should start. And that is why point three of our proposal is the rubble removal and reconstruction enabling. This is the role that Cyprus can play: development of maritime routes for rubble extraction and inbound construction materials into Gaza in order to support Gaza’s rebuilding,” Christodoulides told The Europe Conversation—Euronews’ flagship interview programme.

He noted that the initiative was a success at the time, and that Cyprus is “ready at this stage, as a representative of the European Union in the region, to deliver once again.”

Building bridges

Christodoulides said that Cyprus is willing to leverage its strategic position as a bridge between the EU and the Middle East to play a leading role in Gaza’s future.

The country is taking up the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council from January, meaning the government will have greater influence in setting the agenda at the EU level.

The president noted that one of its major priorities is to “bring the EU closer to the Middle East and the greater Middle East.”

“We are a member of the European Union, but at the same time, we are a part of the Middle East,” he said.

“We are a half-hour flight away from Lebanon, 40 minutes from Israel, 50 minutes from Egypt, 50 minutes from Jordan, half an hour from Syria, and so on.”

He emphasised the need to work with all these partners in the region to implement President Trump’s plan. Cyprus has strong diplomatic ties with both Israel and Palestine, as well as with other countries in the region.

“Our plan is based on our excellent relations with all stakeholders,” he said, citing Israel, “all Arab partners in the region,” the EU and the US.

Six-point plan to focus on aid, security and reconstruction

Aside from reconstruction, Cyrus’ plan is broadly structured along two other main lines: humanitarian aid and security.

It aims to support the delivery of humanitarian aid, the screening of “dual-use goods” (items that can be used both in civilian and military contexts), and the training of Palestinian security forces.

Cyprus is also aiming for a role in Trump’s proposed “international stabilisation force” (tasked with disarming Hamas and maintaining stability in Gaza, among others), which is expected to comprise Arab and international partners.

All six points are pegged to eight separate elements of US President Donald Trump’s broader 20-point plan, including those that refer to humanitarian assistance, economic recovery, reconstruction and future governance.

Christodoulides, however, caveated that rebuilding Gaza can only start when the “right political conditions” are there.

He added that there is “no other alternative right now” to the Trump-led ceasefire peace plan, the first phase of which is tentatively holding. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on 10 October, but both sides have accused each other of violating the truce.

Watch the full interview on The Europe Conversation, Wednesday at 20.30 CEST.