Trump’s Renewed Gaza Plan: Occupation, Displacement, and Gulf Funding
Trump revives a plan to reshape Gaza through displacement and Gulf-backed redevelopment.
Watan-It appears that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to occupy Gaza and displace its residents is not new; rather, it is a continuation of earlier schemes initiated years ago by his advisor and son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
During his presidency, Trump focused on expanding Israel’s influence, moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and brokering normalization agreements under the “Abraham Accords.” Now, he is once again raising the idea of displacing Gaza’s population with potential financial backing from Gulf states.
Trump’s Vision for Gaza: Displacement and Economic Plans
In a recent press conference, Trump reiterated discussions about U.S. control over Gaza, recalling previous statements by Kushner, who had described Gaza as an area of “high economic value” that needed to be redeveloped without Palestinians. In 2024, Kushner publicly discussed the idea of relocating Palestinians to the Negev Desert or Egypt, emphasizing the necessity of “utilizing Gaza’s waterfront” for major economic projects.
Kushner’s Fund and Gulf Involvement in Gaza’s Future
What makes this particularly controversial is that after leaving the White House, Kushner established an investment fund to strengthen economic ties between Israel and Gulf countries, securing billions of dollars in funding from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. According to analysts, this fund could serve as a means to finance the displacement of Palestinians and the construction of a new city on the ruins of Gaza, raising questions about the role of Gulf states in funding this contentious plan.
According to media sources, Trump aims to convince Gulf states to finance Gaza’s reconstruction in exchange for maritime property rights and investment opportunities in the region. He also seeks to leverage his close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—one of the key supporters of the Abraham Accords—to persuade Riyadh and Abu Dhabi to contribute to the project’s funding.
Uncertainty Over Gulf Support for Trump’s Plan
However, the big question remains: Will Gulf states agree to finance Trump’s plan? So far, no Gulf nation has publicly declared its support for the project, but given the intertwined relationships and economic interests, some countries might find themselves compelled to participate. On the other hand, the plan faces strong Palestinian and international opposition, with Palestinian resistance forces affirming that they will not allow any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians.
