In a high-profile presentation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, former President Donald Trump’s administration revealed ambitious plans for a completely reconstructed Gaza Strip. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor, presented a detailed vision featuring luxury residential towers, data centers, industrial parks, and Mediterranean seaside resorts, dramatically rebranding the war-torn territory as the potential “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The announcement comes amid persistent violence that continues to undermine the October truce agreement. Just hours before the presentation, Gaza health officials reported five Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes, with no immediate comment from Israeli authorities. Since the ceasefire began, health officials report over 480 Palestinian fatalities, while Israel acknowledges three soldier deaths.
Kushner’s color-coded “master plan” depicted extensive redevelopment beginning in Rafah, currently under complete Israeli military control. However, the proposal notably omitted critical details regarding property rights, compensation mechanisms for Palestinians who lost homes and livelihoods, and temporary housing solutions for the territory’s nearly two million internally displaced persons.
The financial framework remains equally unclear, with Kushner announcing an upcoming Washington conference to secure private sector contributions while acknowledging the preliminary need to clear approximately 68 million tonnes of rubble and war debris. The presentation slides closely resembled those leaked to the Wall Street Journal in December, which indicated potential U.S. anchoring of 20% of the project.
Concurrently, Palestinian technocrat leader Ali Shaath, backed by Washington to administer Gaza under Trump’s 20-point plan, announced via video link that the crucial Rafah border crossing with Egypt would reopen next week. Israel immediately countered that reopening remains contingent on Hamas fulfilling its ceasefire obligation to return the remains of the last hostage held in the territory.
The reconstruction plan forms part of Trump’s broader “Board of Peace” initiative, which he has promoted as a key achievement of his administration’s first year, alongside brokering peace between India and Pakistan. The proposal has drawn significant criticism from Palestinians and observers for addressing architectural transformation while bypassing fundamental political and humanitarian concerns.