Trump reveals bold plan to create “The Riviera of the Middle East” in Gaza, but the reaction has been swift

President Donald Trump has never been one for subtlety, but his latest proposal has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. On Tuesday, standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, he laid out an unexpected vision: the United States taking control of Gaza, clearing the rubble, and transforming it into a thriving economic hub – a place he called “The Riviera of the Middle East.”

The idea, as Trump explained, is for Washington to take ownership of the war-ravaged territory, rebuild its infrastructure, and create jobs and housing. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings,” Trump said. He added that this development would be something the entire Middle East could be proud of.

But there was one major detail that immediately sparked backlash: who would actually live there?

What happens to the Palestinians?

Trump’s plan envisions ethnically cleansing Gaza, to leave it without most of its current residents. Since January, he has repeatedly floated the idea of relocating Palestinians from the enclave to neighboring Arab nations, specifically Egypt and Jordan. Those countries, along with other regional powers, have already rejected the suggestion outright.

“Instead, we should go to other countries of interest with humanitarian hearts, and there are many of them that want to do this,” Trump said, referring to the resettlement of Gaza’s 1.8 million Palestinians. He also suggested that the costs of the project could be covered by “neighboring countries of great wealth.”

When asked directly whether U.S. troops would be sent to enforce this plan, Trump was vague. “We’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that.” His response left open the possibility of a direct American military presence in Gaza – an idea that runs counter to his previous stance of avoiding U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.

Netanyahu’s approval, international outrage

Netanyahu, who has long opposed a Palestinian state, praised Trump for his “outside-the-box” thinking but did not offer any specifics on how such a plan could be implemented or whether Israel would support U.S. control of Gaza.

The response from Palestinian leaders, human rights groups, and international legal experts was swift and harsh. Critics condemned the idea as a blatant proposal for ethnic cleansing, arguing that forced displacement of Palestinians violates international law. Under the Geneva Conventions, relocating an occupied population is illegal.

The Hamas militant group, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, dismissed Trump’s plan as “ridiculous and absurd.” A senior Hamas official warned that any attempt to forcibly remove Palestinians could set off wider regional conflict.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to back Trump’s broader vision, declaring on social media, “Gaza MUST BE FREE from Hamas. As @POTUS shared today, the United States stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again.” However, Rubio did not elaborate on whether the administration had any concrete steps to carry out such a takeover.

Is Gaza takeover a real plan or just another Trump bargaining tactic?

Some analysts believe Trump’s proposal is not a serious policy initiative but rather a strategic maneuver to shift the conversation around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Will Wechsler, senior director of Middle East programs at the Atlantic Council, suggested Trump may be using his usual playbook – taking extreme positions to gain leverage in future negotiations.

The timing of the announcement also raises questions. The Israel-Hamas war, which has killed over 47,000 Palestinians according to Gaza’s health ministry, has left the region in a humanitarian crisis. The ceasefire currently in place remains fragile, and rebuilding efforts – estimated to take decades – are nowhere near beginning.

“a valuable waterfront property,”

Jared Kushner

Can Gaza really be a luxury destination?

Trump’s real estate background is evident in his vision of Gaza’s future. “You’ll make that into an international, unbelievable place,” he said. “I think the potential and the Gaza Strip is unbelievable.”

His son-in-law and former aide, Jared Kushner, has also described Gaza as “valuable waterfront property,” implying that with the right investment, it could be transformed into something much different than its current reality.

But the reality on the ground tells a different story. According to a United Nations report, clearing Gaza’s 50 million tons of rubble could take up to 21 years and cost at least $1.2 billion. The conflict has left over 1.8 million people in need of emergency shelter, with two-thirds of all buildings in Gaza damaged or destroyed. Essential services, including healthcare, education, and food supplies, are in crisis.

Rebuilding Gaza into anything resembling the French Riviera would require billions of dollars, decades of work, and, critically, a population willing to return and rebuild – something Trump’s plan does not seem to consider.

What happens next in Gaza?

While Trump has thrown out bold ideas before—his push to buy Greenland comes to mind - his Gaza proposal is far more consequential. It challenges long-standing U.S. policy, dismisses the two-state solution, and raises legal and ethical questions that no one in his administration has addressed.

At this stage, it’s unclear whether Trump intends to follow through or whether this is simply another example of his preference for grandiose, attention-grabbing proposals. Either way, the reaction from world leaders and human rights groups has been swift, and if his administration pushes ahead with this plan, it will face an uphill battle on the global stage.

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