Jared Kushner, former Middle East adviser to President Donald Trump, has presented an ambitious vision for Gaza’s future featuring modern cities with sleek high-rises, attractive coastline developments, and state-of-the-art port facilities. His presentation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, outlined a rapid reconstruction timeline claiming Gaza’s cities could be rebuilt within three years given adequate security conditions.
This optimistic projection emerges as world leaders gather to ratify the charter of the Board of Peace, a newly proposed body intended to oversee Gaza’s ceasefire and reconstruction process. However, the initiative faces significant international resistance and skepticism regarding its feasibility and potential implications for global governance structures.
Major European powers have expressed strong reservations about the Board of Peace, with Spain explicitly declining participation in the initiative. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez emphasized the country’s commitment to multilateralism and the United Nations system. European Council President Antonio Costa similarly voiced serious doubts regarding the board’s scope, governance structure, and compatibility with the UN Charter following emergency summit discussions in Brussels.
Academic experts have raised concerns about the potential undermining of United Nations authority. Ayman Yousef, Professor of International Relations at the Arab American University in Jenin, warned that such alternative bodies could weaken the UN’s mission and legal resolutions regarding the Palestinian question.
Practical obstacles further complicate the ambitious reconstruction timeline. The United Nations Office for Project Services estimates Gaza contains over 60 million metric tons of rubble—enough to fill nearly 3,000 container ships—requiring more than seven years for clearance alone, not including subsequent demining operations. Rights groups note that rubble clearance and demining activities have not substantially begun due to Israeli restrictions on heavy machinery entry.
Security concerns present additional complications. Conflict resolution expert Nomi Bar-Yaacov of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy described the high-rise development concept as “unrealistic,” noting Israel would unlikely accept structures providing clear visibility into its military installations near the border. Former US Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller concluded the initiative lacks both bandwidth and guiding principles necessary for serious international participation.