Washington/Davos:
Senior US officials on Thursday outlined an ambitious and controversial vision for a “New Gaza”, proposing to transform the war-devastated Palestinian territory into a glitzy seaside city of skyscrapers, resorts and promenades within three years.
The proposal comes months after a US-brokered ceasefire reduced large-scale fighting in Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which triggered a devastating Israeli military response that left much of the enclave in ruins and displaced most of its population.
Despite the truce taking effect in October last year, Gaza continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis, with widespread destruction of homes, hospitals and schools forcing hundreds of thousands to live in makeshift shelters.
Trump Calls Gaza ‘Prime Real Estate’
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, US President Donald Trump presented his controversial “Board of Peace” conflict-resolution initiative and said Gaza could emerge as a global showcase.
“We’re going to be very successful in Gaza. It’s going to be a great thing to watch,” Trump said.
“I’m a real estate person at heart… Look at this location on the sea. Look at this beautiful piece of property. What it could be for so many people.”
Trump has previously described Gaza as a potential “Riviera of the Middle East”, remarks that have drawn sharp criticism internationally.
Kushner Details ‘Master Plan’
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, a key envoy on the Gaza ceasefire despite holding no official government position, presented what he called a “master plan” aimed at what he termed “catastrophic success.”
Using slides showing terraced apartment towers, tree-lined promenades and coastal skylines, Kushner said rebuilding Gaza on a massive scale was achievable.
“In the Middle East, they build cities for two or three million people in three years. This is very doable if we make it happen,” he said.
Kushner projected at least $25 billion in investment to rebuild infrastructure and public services. Within a decade, Gaza’s GDP could reach $10 billion, with average household incomes of $13,000 annually, driven by 100 percent employment, he claimed.
“It could be a destination. A place with industry, opportunity and hope,” Kushner added.
Disarmament of Hamas Central to Plan
Kushner stressed that full disarmament of Hamas, a condition outlined in the ceasefire agreement, was critical to unlocking foreign investment and donor confidence.
“We’ll announce a lot of contributions in the coming weeks in Washington. There’ll be amazing investment opportunities,” he said.
He also noted that 85 percent of Gaza’s economy had long depended on aid, calling it unsustainable and lacking dignity.
Egyptian Plan Overshadowed
Notably absent from the presentation was Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose country had led a 2025 Arab-backed Gaza reconstruction plan supported by the European Union.
Although Sisi and Trump exchanged praise during a private meeting, the Egyptian leader departed Davos early. Gaza administrator Ali Shaath, appointed under Trump’s “Board of Peace,” has said Egypt’s proposal forms the “foundation” of the broader reconstruction effort.
UN Warns of Dire Humanitarian Conditions
A senior UN official recently warned that Gazans are living in “inhumane” conditions, even as the ceasefire entered its second phase.
According to Gaza’s health ministry — figures the UN considers credible — at least 71,562 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military campaign since October 2023.
An additional 477 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire began on October 10.
The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, killed 1,221 people in Israel, with 251 hostages taken, including 44 who were already dead, Israeli authorities said.