Key Takeaways
- The Trump administration’s Gaza plan includes “voluntary” relocation of Palestinians, offering financial incentives for departure.
- The initiative, called GREAT Trust, envisions financing through public and private investments for large-scale projects in Gaza.
- Legal experts warn that any proposal limiting Palestinian return home or lacking basic necessities would be deemed unlawful.
Details of the GREAT Trust Proposal
The Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration, and Transformation (GREAT) Trust is a new proposal devised by the Trump administration, advocating for the relocation of Gaza’s over 2 million residents. According to the Washington Post, the plan suggests that Palestinians could leave Gaza voluntarily in exchange for cash, digital tokens, and subsidies for food and housing.
The proposal, initially drafted by Israelis in collaboration with the U.S. and the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, aims for either relocation abroad or confinement to secured zones in Gaza during its reconstruction. Landowners would receive digital tokens for their temporary relocation, which could be redeemed for redevelopment rights or relocation offers to six to eight AI-enabled smart cities planned in Gaza.
For those choosing to depart, the compensation package includes $5,000, four years of rent support, and one year of food assistance. Proponents claim that each individual’s relocation would save the trust approximately $23,000 compared to the costs incurred for those remaining in secure zones, covering housing and life support.
The plan outlines ambitious developments, including a “Gaza Trump Riviera,” resorts, and high-tech planned cities complete with essential services and recreational spaces. It anticipates a substantial return on investment, projecting a nearly fourfold profit from a $100 billion investment within ten years. This funding would reportedly come from both public and private investments rather than U.S. taxpayer dollars, a departure from traditional aid models.
Discussions about the plan have taken place among top officials, including Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and others. However, no firm decisions or commitments have been made public yet. Critics, including legal experts like Rutgers professor Adil Haque, caution that any plan preventing the return of Palestinians or failing to ensure basic living standards would be unlawful, regardless of the financial incentives involved.
Previously, in an interview, Trump defended his vision of rebuilding Gaza, asserting that relocating Palestinians would lead to “much better housing” for them, albeit distancing them from their homeland. The proposal has raised significant concerns about its humanitarian implications and legality, with ongoing debates about its feasibility and ethical considerations in the international community.
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