In brief
At the World Economic Forum, the US presented plans for a 'New Gaza', proposing to rebuild the territory with new skyscrapers, residential areas, and advanced infrastructure in a phased development approach. The initiative is part of a broader strategy under President Trump's new Board of Peace, aimed at fostering stability in the region following ongoing conflict. Jared Kushner, a key figure in the process, emphasized the importance of demilitarization for future investments.
The US has unveiled its plans for a 'New Gaza' that would see the devastated Palestinian territory rebuilt from scratch.
Slides showed dozens of skyscrapers stretching along the Mediterranean coast and housing estates in the Rafah area, while a map outlining the phased development of new residential, agricultural, and industrial areas for the 2.1 million population.
They were presented during a signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos for President Donald Trump's new Board of Peace, which is tasked with ending the two-year war between Israel and Hamas and overseeing reconstruction.
We're going to be very successful in Gaza. It's going to be a great thing to watch, Trump declared.
I'm a real estate person at heart and it's all about location. And I said: 'Look at this location on the sea. Look at this beautiful piece of property. What it could be for so many people.'
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who helped broker the ceasefire that took effect in October, mentioned that 90,000 tonnes of munitions had been dropped on Gaza and there were 60 million tonnes of rubble to clear.
A map of the US 'Master Plan' showed a zone reserved for 'coastal tourism', where there would be 180 tower-blocks as well as several zones for 'residential areas', 'industrial complex, data centres, advanced manufacturing' and 'parks, agriculture and sports facilities'.
Redevelopment would be divided into four phases, starting in Rafah and then gradually moving north towards Gaza City.
In the coming weeks, a conference in Washington is expected to be held to announce contributions from countries and outline investment opportunities for the private sector.
The ambitious initiative has drawn skepticism and concern from various stakeholders, given the complex socio-political dynamics in the region and past experiences with proposed peace plans.
