Trump’s “Gaza Riviera” Proposal

President Trump has outlined a sweeping plan to remake Gaza, envisioning its transformation from a war-torn territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East”—complete with resorts, smart cities, and a high-tech economy. Under the proposal, the United States would administer Gaza for at least a decade, direct reconstruction efforts, and implement a population strategy aimed at relocating Palestinians abroad.

1. U.S. Administrative Control

• Duration: 10–15 years of U.S. trusteeship.

• Responsibilities: Oversee the removal of 50 million+ tons of rubble, disposal of unexploded ordnance, and cleanup of environmental hazards.

• Authority: Trump initially said the U.S. would “own Gaza,” though aides later clarified there would be no commitment of American troops or direct funding.

2. Palestinian Relocation

• Mechanism: Financial incentives offered to Palestinians to “voluntarily” relocate to Egypt, Jordan, or other regions such as Libya, Sudan, Syria, or Somalia’s Puntland/Somaliland.

• Permanence: Trump at first described relocation as permanent, ruling out return, but aides later softened this to “temporary.”

• Destinations: Trump floated the creation of “six safe communities” or a “beautiful new land,” though Egypt and Jordan have publicly rejected hosting displaced Palestinians.

3. Redevelopment Plan

• Economic Vision: Develop resorts, harbors, an airport, and high-tech industries.

• Infrastructure: Rebuild Gaza’s devastated water, sanitation, and agriculture systems, while assessing tunnel damage left by Hamas.

• Timeline: 10–15 years, possibly 25 given the destruction (with 90% of Gaza’s population displaced and half its infrastructure destroyed).

• Population: Trump has alternated between suggesting Gaza would welcome “the world’s people” and asserting Palestinians would not return.

4. Security and Governance

• Hamas Factor: Assumes Hamas has been eliminated, but offers no clear strategy for ensuring long-term security.

• Military Role: Trump initially raised the idea of U.S. troops “if necessary,” then walked it back. Security arrangements remain undefined.

• Humanitarian Framing: Trump argues Palestinians live in “hell” and would benefit from relocation to “safe, beautiful communities.”

• Economic Pitch: He promises “unlimited jobs and housing,” portraying Gaza’s coast as a future global destination.