Israeli Foreign Minister Calls Gaza Rubble Since Trump Plan, Rules Out Reconstruction

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Gaza remains a rubble zone since the announcement of former President Donald Trump's plan about a year ago, emphasizing that reconstruction is currently off the table.

Minister's statements and on‑ground developments

Cohen noted that the army continues to block any large‑scale building work, despite international diplomatic efforts to restart reconstruction. In December 2025, he stated that rebuilding depends on Hamas abandoning its weapons, arguing that Gaza has no future in its present state.

Meanwhile, Israeli reports claim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have quietly approved a pilot project in eastern Rafah to upgrade infrastructure, including electricity, water and sewage, as part of a UAE‑backed temporary housing initiative outside Hamas control.

Background of the U.S. plan and global response

Trump's 20‑point plan, endorsed by the UN Security Council in resolution 2803, called for a cease‑fire, Hamas disarmament, phased Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction. Israel, however, violated the cease‑fire and expanded control over more than 70% of Gaza, blocking reconstruction and humanitarian aid.

The reconstruction fund managed by the World Bank remains empty, reducing the plan’s ambitions to a modest pilot providing caravans in Rafah. Separately, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced an expansion of the regional humanitarian fund in Gaza named after Russian hero Ahmed Khaji Kadyrov.

Gaza’s situation stays complex, with negotiations stalled by stringent Israeli security demands, and no major shift in reconstruction prospects is expected soon.