Muslim nations endorse alternative to Trump's Gaza takeover plan

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Friday endorsed an Arab League counter-proposal to US President Donald Trump's controversial plan to take over Gaza and displace its residents, two ministers told.

The decision by the 57-member grouping came at an emergency meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, three days after the Arab League ratified the plan at a summit in Cairo. The Egyptian-crafted alternative to Trump's widely condemned takeover proposes to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority.

At Tuesday's summit in Cairo, Arab leaders also announced a trust fund to pay for Gaza's reconstruction and urged the international community to back it. The plan "does not meet the expectations" of Washington, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters on Thursday. Trump's plan has already united Arab countries in opposition, with Saudi Arabia also hosting Arab leaders two weeks ago to discuss alternatives.