Trump’s Gaza Resort Vision Sparks Global Backlash
A Controversial Proposal Resurfaces
U.S. President Donald Trump has revived a controversial idea first floated by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner—transforming the Gaza Strip into an international beach resort under U.S. control. The proposal, outlined during a press conference on Tuesday, has triggered a wave of criticism from Palestinian leaders and international observers, who argue that forcibly removing Gaza’s residents would amount to ethnic cleansing and violate international law.
However, this is not the first time Trump has envisioned Gaza as a real estate opportunity. In October 2023, he suggested in a radio interview that Gaza could be “better than Monaco” if properly rebuilt.
Kushner’s Real Estate Perspective on Gaza
The idea of redeveloping Gaza gained traction early in Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, following the October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. Speaking at Harvard in February 2024, Kushner, a former New York property developer, described Gaza as valuable waterfront property that could thrive under the right conditions.
“It’s an unfortunate situation, but from Israel’s perspective, I would do my best to move the people out and clean it up,” Kushner said at the event. His past remarks have framed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a real estate disputerather than a political or humanitarian crisis.
A spokesperson for Kushner did not respond to requests for comment.
Saudi Arabia and Palestinian Leaders Reject the Plan
Despite the bold vision, experts remain skeptical about the feasibility of Trump’s proposal. A source close to the Saudi royal court dismissed the idea as unrealistic and politically unviable.
“It has not been thought through and is impossible to implement,” the source said.
In response, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry issued a strong statement Wednesday, rejecting any attempt to displace Palestinians from their homeland. Both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas also condemned Trump’s remarks, viewing them as an escalation of displacement efforts.
Gulf Investors Unlikely to Back the Project
Trump’s plan faces additional hurdles beyond political backlash. Kushner’s private equity firm, which has received $2 billion in Saudi investment, has not engaged in any known discussions about Gaza redevelopment.
For Palestinians, such rhetoric evokes memories of the “Nakba”—the mass displacement of 700,000 Palestiniansfollowing Israel’s 1948 war of independence.
Analysts argue that large-scale investment in post-conflict Gaza is improbable without long-term stability. While Israel’s construction sector has the capacity to rebuild, many firms declined to comment on potential involvement.
“Rebuilding requires financial stability and long-term planning,” said Raz Domb, an analyst at Leader Capital Markets in Tel Aviv. “But at this point, there’s nothing concrete to assess.”
Israeli Settlers Show Interest in Gaza Resettlement
One group showing enthusiasm for Trump’s comments is Israel’s settler movement. For years, some settler leaders have advocated a return to Gaza, where Israeli settlements were dismantled in 2005 under then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Although Trump stated he does not envision Jewish settlements in Gaza, his remarks were immediately seized upon by settler groups.
The Nachala Movement, which promotes Jewish settlement expansion, recently organized a conference titled “Preparing to Resettle Gaza.” The event included Likud politicians and other Israeli leaders discussing ways to “encourage” Palestinian emigration and re-establish Jewish communities.
“Assuming Trump’s plan is put into practice, we must hurry and establish settlements throughout Gaza,” the group posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Future of Gaza: A Demolition Site or a Resort?
Currently, Gaza remains a devastated war zone. Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, a former real estate developer, described it as a “demolition site” requiring at least 10 to 15 years of reconstruction. The estimated cost to rebuild Gaza exceeds $100 billion.
However, Gulf nations refuse to invest in reconstruction without a clear path toward Palestinian statehood. Investors remain wary, considering land ownership laws in Gaza are an intricate mix of Ottoman, British, Jordanian, and Palestinian regulations, further complicating any potential development.
For now, despite Trump’s vision of a “Riviera of the Middle East,” political, legal, and financial obstacles make the plan highly unlikely to materialize anytime soon.
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