The United States has unveiled an ambitious reconstruction blueprint for the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, branding the initiative “New Gaza.” The plan envisions a complete transformation of the Palestinian territory, with modern infrastructure, high-rise buildings and expansive tourism zones along the Mediterranean coast.
According to presentation slides, rows of skyscrapers are planned along Gaza’s coastline, while large residential projects will be developed in the Rafah area. A detailed map outlines a phased reconstruction process designed to accommodate Gaza’s population of approximately 2.1 million people, integrating new housing, agricultural land and industrial zones.
The proposal was presented during a signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. At the same event, US President Donald Trump announced the formation of a new “Board of Peace,” tasked with ending the two-year-long war between Israel and Hamas and overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction.
“We are going to succeed in Gaza. It’s going to be something to behold,” President Trump said.
“I am, at heart, a real estate developer, and this is all about location. Look at this coastal land. This extraordinary territory could become something very big for many people,” he added.
Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, who played a role in negotiations leading to last October’s ceasefire, provided further details at the event. He said nearly 90,000 tonnes of munitions had been used in Gaza, leaving behind an estimated 60 million tonnes of debris that must be cleared.
Initially, Kushner said, planners had considered dividing Gaza into separate zones, including one controlled by Hamas. “Later, we decided to do it all together,” he explained.
He added that Hamas had signed an agreement to disarm, insisting that the process would be implemented. “People ask us about a Plan B. There is no Plan B,” he said.
Under the US master plan, Gaza would feature a coastal tourism district with around 180 high-rise buildings, alongside residential neighbourhoods, industrial zones, information technology hubs, modern factories, parks, farmland and sports facilities. The plan also includes a new seaport and airport near the Egyptian border, as well as a special border-crossing point where the Egyptian and Israeli borders converge.
Reconstruction is to be carried out in four phases, beginning in Rafah and gradually moving northward toward Gaza City. Maps also show an empty stretch of land along the Egyptian and Israeli borders, believed to correspond to a security zone mentioned in President Trump’s earlier 20-point peace plan, where Israeli forces would remain until Gaza is deemed fully secure.
Another slide detailed plans for “New Rafah,” including more than 100,000 permanent housing units, 200 educational institutions and 75 medical centres. Before the war, Rafah was home to around 280,000 people. Israeli military operations and systematic destruction have since left the city almost entirely demolished and under Israeli control.
Kushner said construction of New Rafah could be completed within two to three years, noting that debris removal had already begun. “New Gaza could become a symbol of hope — a new destination and an industry-driven region,” he said.
He also announced that an international conference would be held in Washington in the coming weeks, where countries would pledge financial assistance and private investors would be offered major investment opportunities.
President Trump’s earlier remarks, made last February, suggesting that Gaza’s Palestinian population could be permanently relocated to neighbouring countries while the United States takes control of Gaza and turns it into a Middle Eastern tourism hub, sparked global controversy.
Kushner reiterated that the disarmament of Gaza would begin immediately, stressing that no investment would be possible without security. He said a new technology-driven Palestinian authority — the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) — would work with Hamas to implement the disarmament process in line with the agreement and move the territory toward the next phase.
Hamas has consistently maintained that it will not lay down its arms without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. President Trump, however, issued a stark warning: “Hamas must disarm. If they do not, it will be the end of them.”
Source: BBC.