Washington – Is this the future of Gaza? After US President Donald Trump (79) mooted a"Riviera" for the Palestinian Territory months ago and said that the US could "take over" the enclave, the plans now appear to be clearly taking shape.
BILD has obtained a 38-page document from the Trump administration containing plans for industry, infrastructure, and smart, planned cities with skyscrapers. The Washington Post also reported on it previously. It remains unclear how deeply Trump is involved in individual details.
The"GREAT" plan ("Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation") envisions Gaza under US trusteeship for at least ten years,"until a reformed and de-radicalized Palestinian authority is ready to take its place."
The area is to be transformed into a tourism and high-tech center. The two million residents would temporarily emigrate"voluntarily" or move to secure zones.
This is what Trump's"GREAT" plan for Gaza says
▶︎ No US government funds: The plan would be financed through investments from the private sector and “Arab and other countries,” organized as a “multilateral institution.”
▶︎ Compensation for Palestinians: Landowners will receive"digital tokens" for redevelopment or housing in new "AI-powered cities." Those who leave will receive $5,000 plus subsidies for rent and food – for up to four years.
▶︎ Administration and Security: Israel would transfer powers to the"GREAT" trust, but would retain"overriding rights to safeguard its security needs" for the first year. After that, there would be a transition to"local police forces."
Explosive detail: Western companies are explicitly named as partners and investors on several pages of the plan. This includes IKEA on page 21.
In response to BILD's inquiry, IKEA Germany stated:"This information is new and unexpected for us. Inter IKEA Systems B.V., as the global IKEA franchisor and owner of the IKEA brands, is not aware of this initiative and can confirm that we have not authorized the use of the IKEA logo in this context."
Megaprojects of the “GREAT” plan
The "GREAT" plan encompasses several major projects designed to transform Gaza into a thriving, green city of the future.
▶︎ Roads (-railways): Construction of a ring road"MBS Highway" – named after the Saudi Crown Prince, who is said to be donating a lot of money – and a tramway as well as a north-south highway.
▶︎ A new port and airport would be built in the far south, with direct land connections to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
▶︎ Supply: A water desalination plant and a solar field on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt will supply Gaza with water and electricity.
▶︎ “Smart Industry”: A mega-project is to be built on Israel’s border, with an “Elon Musk Smart Manufacturing Zone,” American electric car companies, and regional data centers to supply Israel and the Gulf States.
▶︎ Riviera: Trump's prestige project, the"Gaza-Trump Riviera" with beach resorts and artificial islands modeled on Dubai, is to be built on the western shore of the enclave.
▶︎ Large residential complexes: Up to 20-story buildings in six to eight “AI-powered cities” are intended to provide space for millions of Palestinians.
Whether and how these plans will be implemented remains unclear. The Palestinian Authority, Egypt, and the Emirates have their own plans for Gaza's future. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , for his part, stated that Israel is"talking to several countries" about accepting residents from Gaza.
Israel is currently pushing around 2 million people south while preparing its offensive in Gaza City. According to the UN, 90 percent of homes have been destroyed.
