Key Takeaways

• The White House has circulated a plan to transform Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East” through the GREAT Trust initiative.
• The proposal includes relocating up to 500,000 Gazans and massive investments for infrastructure projects, aiming for high returns.

Transforming Gaza: A Controversial Proposal

The White House is promoting a plan to reshape Gaza into what US President Donald Trump envisions as a high-tech “Riviera of the Middle East.” A 38-page prospectus detailing the GREAT Trust initiative, recently obtained by The Washington Post, outlines ambitious strategies for Gaza’s future, focusing on manufacturing, trade, data, and tourism, leveraging its strategic location and youthful workforce.

A key aspect of the GREAT Trust is a proposed ten-year multilateral custodianship aimed at establishing reformed Palestinian governance following the demilitarization of Gaza. Financial modeling for the plan was executed by a team from the Boston Consulting Group, although BCG has distanced itself from the project after terminating the involved partners. The plan has raised alarms, with former US State Department official Josh Paul describing it as a transition from Israeli colonialism to corporate colonialism.

The GREAT Trust features two primary proposals regarding Gaza’s population of over two million. The first plan suggests that 75 percent of the population would remain in Gaza during the transformation, whereas the second proposal involves relocating up to 500,000 Gazans to third countries. Those opting to relocate would receive financial support, including $5,000 per person, subsidized rent for four years, and a year of subsidized food.

The initiative earmarks $6 billion for housing those who remain and $5 billion for those relocating, alongside forecasts of substantial returns for investors. Major companies such as Tesla, Amazon, and various construction firms are poised for involvement in ten “megaprojects,” including “smart cities” and a data safe haven.

Additionally, the plan proposes to enhance US influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, with interests in securing access to rare-earth minerals valued at $1.3 trillion, which are abundant in the Gulf region.

Trump’s earlier assertion about “leveling” Gaza has been met with stark rejection from Palestinian leaders and local populations, who view the suggestion of voluntary relocation as a thinly veiled call for ethnic cleansing. A survey indicated a significant number of Gazans are hesitant to leave their homeland, with many feeling a deep connection and commitment to their heritage.

Amid a backdrop of rising tensions, Israeli officials have also expressed ambitions for ongoing control over Gaza, complicating prospects for peace and stability in the region. The ongoing discourse surrounding Gaza’s future continues to prompt controversy and concern over the implications for Palestinian rights and sovereignty.

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