Plan for post-conflict situation suggests the forced relocation of all Gaza residents and comprehensive rebuilding of the territory.

In a move that has sparked controversy and debate, former US President Donald Trump has proposed a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The plan, titled the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation (Great) Trust, envisions a significant transformation of the war-torn region.

According to reports, the plan, which was shared in February, aims to create up to a million jobs and involves building six to eight "dynamic, modern, and AI-powered smart planned cities" with skyscrapers. The Gaza Strip, under this proposal, would be redeveloped into a global investment center, attracting US electric car companies and regional data centers.

One of the most contentious aspects of the plan is its proposal for the displacement of Gaza's entire population, either outside the territory or to restricted zones during reconstruction. Palestinians with land in Gaza would be offered digital tokens for financing a life outside of the Gaza Strip or for future apartment redemption in new developments.

The plan also proposes the redevelopment of the Gaza coast into the "Gaza Trump Riviera," with resorts and potential artificial islands like those in Dubai. Trump has previously stated that he envisions the Gaza Strip becoming the "Riviera of the Middle East."

The Trump-backed proposal for Gaza, which envisions a reduced native population through "voluntary" departures, has been met with criticism and concern. At least 63,459 people have been killed and 160,256 injured in Gaza since the war began after the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 22, 2023. The proposal's displacement of the population has been seen as a potential violation of human rights.

The proposal was drawn up by some of the same Israelis who developed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. In addition to Trump, the plan was discussed with former UK prime minister Tony Blair and former Middle East envoy Jared Kushner at the White House.

The Financial Times reported in July about the Great Trust proposal, mentioning limited participation of the Tony Blair Institute. The plan was also reported on by The Washington Post. Besides the Israelis and Trump, 26 Western countries and the European Commission were involved in a joint statement demanding humanitarian aid access to Gaza; these include EU countries, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, and Great Britain, represented by their foreign ministers and EU commissioners such as EU foreign affairs head Kaja Kallas.

The proposal's vision of Gaza as a global investment center has been met with scepticism, with some questioning the feasibility of attracting such investment to a region with ongoing conflict and political instability. The plan's proposal for the US to take over the Gaza Strip for at least 10 years has also raised concerns about US involvement in the region and potential violations of international law.

The proposal was shared in the same month as an AI-generated video depicting a rich, skyscraper-studded Gaza, causing outrage in the Arab world. It is not known to what extent the Great Trust proposal was discussed in the White House talks in February. The plan's future remains uncertain, but its proposal has sparked a significant debate about the future of the Gaza Strip and the role of foreign powers in the region.

Plan for post-conflict situation suggests the forced relocation of all Gaza residents and comprehensive rebuilding of the territory.