Egyptian construction firms surveyed sites in Gaza for 'Green Rafah' project, sources say

Green Rafah is a proposed housing project in eastern Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. It would create residential buildings on land now covered partly by wartime destruction. The project matters because Rafah was once home to about 250,000 Palestinians, while nearly all residents are now homeless after extensive demolitions.

Egyptian construction firms surveyed sites for the project. Plans include removing debris, preparing and leveling the land, and connecting electricity, water, and sewage networks. The neighborhood would initially house around 20,000 Palestinians. Reports also describe it as a UAE-backed pilot project under Israeli military supervision.

The project has not yet reached full construction. One source said work could begin after Israeli elections, while another said companies were waiting for permission to clear debris and level the site. The proposed neighborhood would operate under multinational or international administration, separating Gaza from Israel, according to the sources.

Egyptian engineers surveyed several areas in eastern Rafah for the proposed neighborhood. A second source linked to the Organi Group said the company sent a team to inspect a site earmarked for residential buildings. The survey produced engineering information needed for later design and construction planning.

Israeli army and air force personnel reportedly accompanied the Egyptian teams until they left Gaza. The sources attributed this arrangement to Israeli control of the area, which lies on the Israeli-controlled side of the Yellow Line. Earlier reporting also said Palestinian workers and contractors would face security checks by Israel's Shin Bet before entering.

The survey therefore did not represent unrestricted Egyptian access. It showed that any Egyptian reconstruction role would operate within Israeli security arrangements. The article does not establish a final legal agreement, but it reports that Israeli supervision would continue during infrastructure work and possibly construction.

Green Rafah is planned as a neighborhood for around 20,000 Palestinians. That figure is only an initial capacity, but it shows the project's limited scale compared with Rafah's former population of roughly 250,000. The proposed housing would therefore address only part of the displacement caused by the war.

The article reports that Israeli forces demolished at least 80 percent of buildings in the Rafah governorate. Rafah's homes, refugee camps, markets, and green spaces were heavily affected. Nearly all former residents are described as homeless, creating an urgent need for shelter and basic services.

These figures frame the project's challenge. A 20,000-person neighborhood could provide housing for many people, but it would not rebuild the governorate or return everyone who lost a home. The broader reconstruction effort would require further sites, debris clearance, infrastructure work, and decisions about who receives housing.

Construction cannot begin simply because a site has been surveyed. The Egyptian source said the survey must support engineering drawings and studies, while companies await approval to remove rubble and prepare the land. Debris clearance is essential because the proposed neighborhood would be built in an area damaged by war.

The reported sequence is practical: clear the ruins, remove debris, level the ground, and prepare the site for foundations. Infrastructure work would also involve excavation and connections to electricity, water, and sewage networks. Israeli military supervision was expected during this work, according to the reported plans.

The project therefore depends on several approvals and operations before residents can move in. One source said work would likely begin after Israeli elections, while another said companies were waiting for the go-ahead. The article provides no confirmed construction start date or completion schedule.

The sources described Green Rafah as falling under multinational or international administration. One source linked the arrangement to a multinational force expected in several parts of Gaza under the Sharm el-Sheikh peace agreement. Another said the project would separate Gaza from Israel. This could create a governing structure distinct from existing local control.

Such administration could determine who manages services, enforces rules, and authorizes access. The article reports that Israeli forces would supervise the survey and that Palestinian workers might need Shin Bet security checks. Those arrangements suggest that entering the neighborhood could require approval from more than one authority.

The consequences remain uncertain because the project and its administration are only proposed. The article does not specify final border rules, resident permits, or procedures for leaving. If implemented, international oversight could shape daily governance and movement, but the balance between the multinational force, Israel, Egypt, and Palestinian residents would need to be settled.

Egypt is positioned as the project's construction partner. Egyptian engineers surveyed the site, and Egyptian companies are expected to receive reconstruction work assigned to Egypt. Israel controls the area and reportedly supervises surveys and infrastructure work. Its forces would also manage security checks for Palestinian workers and contractors.

The UAE is identified by Netanyahu's office as backing Green Rafah as a pilot project. The article also places it within a wider US-backed reconstruction vision presented by Jared Kushner at the World Economic Forum. Egyptian firms linked to Ibrahim al-Arjani, including companies in the Organi Group, are expected to win assigned work and subcontract some projects.

These roles are reported, not presented as a finalized public agreement. The Organi Group and Egypt's State Information Service did not respond to requests for comment. Construction still depends on permission to clear debris and level land, while the project's administration and timetable remain unsettled.

Land ownership matters because rebuilding requires a lawful decision about who may use or control the site. Housing allocation matters because a new neighborhood can hold only some displaced people. The article gives Green Rafah an initial capacity of 20,000, while nearly all Rafah's former residents are described as homeless.

Demolition makes these questions especially urgent. People may have lost homes, property records, livelihoods, and access to familiar communities. A reconstruction plan would need to identify eligible residents, protect people from being excluded, and clarify whether housing is temporary or permanent. Those issues also affect services and the neighborhood's future administration.

The article does not detail land titles, allocation rules, compensation, or return rights. Those gaps are central unresolved issues, not evidence of a settled system. Unless displaced people's rights are addressed, construction could provide shelter while leaving disputes over ownership, residence, and control unresolved.