The US has unveiled its plans for a New Gaza that would see the devastated Palestinian territory rebuilt from scratch.
Slides showed dozens of skyscrapers stretching along the Mediterranean coast and housing estates in the Rafah area, while a map outlining the phased development of new residential, agricultural, and industrial areas for the 2.1 million population.
They were presented during a signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos for President Donald Trump's new Board of Peace, which is tasked with ending the two-year war between Israel and Hamas and overseeing reconstruction.
We're going to be very successful in Gaza. It's going to be a great thing to watch, Trump declared.
I'm a real estate person at heart and it's all about location. And I said: 'Look at this location on the sea. Look at this beautiful piece of property. What it could be for so many people.'
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who helped broker the ceasefire that took effect in October, said 90,000 tonnes of munitions had been dropped on Gaza and there were 60 million tonnes of rubble to clear.
A new seaport and airport would be built near the Egyptian border, and there would be a trilateral crossing where the Egyptian and Israeli borders converge.
Redevelopment would be divided into four phases, starting in Rafah and then gradually moving north towards Gaza City.
The map also featured an empty strip of land running along the Egyptian and Israeli borders, marking a security perimeter where Israeli forces will remain until Gaza is properly secure.
Another slide claimed that New Rafah would include over 100,000 permanent housing units, 200 education centres, and 75 medical facilities.
Kushner expressed optimism about completing the project within two to three years, emphasizing that demilitarisation of the territory was starting now.
Despite the ambitious plans, challenges remain as tensions persist between Hamas and Israel. Humanitarian conditions in Gaza also remain dire, with thousands lacking adequate shelter.
Overall, the US initiative for 'New Gaza' emphasizes a significant transformation that draws both support and skepticism from various stakeholders engaged in the ongoing conflict.
