Imagine a war-torn Gaza transformed into a gleaming metropolis of skyscrapers and thriving communities. This is the bold vision the US has unveiled for a 'New Gaza,' a plan that aims to rebuild the devastated Palestinian territory from the ground up. But here's where it gets controversial: can a project of this scale truly bring peace and prosperity, or is it a naive dream built on shaky foundations?
The US presented its ambitious blueprint at the World Economic Forum in Davos, showcasing a future Gaza with dozens of skyscrapers lining the Mediterranean coast, modern housing estates in Rafah, and a meticulously phased development plan for residential, agricultural, and industrial zones to accommodate its 2.1 million residents. This initiative falls under President Donald Trump's new Board of Peace, tasked with ending the two-year conflict 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, emphasizing his real estate background and the strategic location of the territory. "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 played a key role in brokering the October ceasefire, highlighted the immense challenges ahead. He noted that 90,000 tonnes of munitions had been dropped on Gaza, leaving 60 million tonnes of rubble to clear. Initially, the idea was to create separate zones—a free zone and a Hamas zone—but the plan evolved. "We said, 'Let's just plan for catastrophic success,'" Kushner explained. "Hamas signed a deal to demilitarize, and that is what we are going to enforce. People ask us what our plan B is. We do not have a plan B."
The US 'Master Plan' includes a 'coastal tourism' zone with 180 tower blocks, residential areas, an industrial complex, data centers, advanced manufacturing hubs, and parks, agriculture, and sports facilities. A new seaport and airport are slated for construction near the Egyptian border, along with a 'trilateral crossing' at the convergence of the Egyptian and Israeli borders. The redevelopment will unfold in four phases, starting in Rafah and gradually moving north toward Gaza City.
And this is the part most people miss: the plan features an empty strip of land along the Egyptian and Israeli borders, designated as a 'security perimeter' where Israeli forces will remain 'until Gaza is properly secure,' according to Trump's 20-point peace plan. This detail alone could spark heated debates about sovereignty and long-term security arrangements.
'New Rafah' is envisioned to include over 100,000 permanent housing units, 200 education centers, and 75 medical facilities. Once home to 280,000 people, Gaza's southernmost city has been largely reduced to rubble by Israeli strikes and controlled demolitions during the war and is currently under Israeli control. Kushner expressed confidence that 'New Rafah' could be completed within two to three years. "We've already started removing the rubble and doing some of the demolition. And then New Gaza. It could be a hope, it could be a destination, with a lot of industry," he said.
In the coming weeks, a conference in Washington will announce contributions from countries and outline 'amazing investment opportunities' for the private sector. However, this plan is not without its critics. Last February, Trump's suggestion to relocate Gaza's Palestinians to neighboring countries and transform the territory into 'the Riviera of the Middle East' sparked global outrage.
Kushner emphasized that demilitarization is already underway, stating, "Without security, nobody is going to make investments." He added that the new technocratic Palestinian government, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), will work with Hamas to enforce demilitarization. Hamas, however, has historically refused to disarm without the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Trump issued a stark warning: "They have to give up their weapons, and if they don't do that, it's going to be the end of them."
Another point of contention is Trump's insistence that Hamas hand over the body of the last dead Israeli hostage in Gaza, a condition Israel claims should have been met before phase two of the peace plan began. Phase one included a ceasefire, an exchange of hostages and detainees, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and increased humanitarian aid deliveries.
The ceasefire remains fragile, with at least 477 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes over the past three months, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Israel reports that three of its soldiers have been killed in attacks by Palestinian armed groups. On Thursday, five people were reportedly killed by Israeli fire across Gaza, including four in an artillery strike in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City.
Humanitarian conditions are still dire, with nearly 1 million people lacking adequate shelter and 1.6 million facing acute food insecurity, according to the UN. Hamas, in a Thursday statement, reaffirmed its commitment to the October agreement and accused Israel of undermining international ceasefire efforts.
At Davos, Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised Trump's leadership but cautioned, "The real test has to be Hamas leaving Gaza." Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called for the full implementation of the peace plan, including Israeli withdrawal and a central role for the PA in administering Gaza. Meanwhile, NCAG head Ali Shaath announced that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt will reopen next week in both directions, a significant step after being mostly closed since May 2024.
"Opening Rafah signals that Gaza is no longer closed to the future and to the war," Shaath said. The conflict began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed over 71,560 people, according to the territory's health ministry.
Is this 'New Gaza' plan a realistic path to peace, or is it an overly ambitious project doomed to fail? What do you think? Does demilitarization guarantee security, or is it a non-negotiable red line for Hamas? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a constructive debate!
