A postwar plan for Gaza circulating within the Trump administration would offer each Palestinian $5,000 to leave the Strip, place the territory under US control for at least 10 years, and transform it into what Trump once described as the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’—built on Gaza’s rubble, The Washington Post reported.

Modelled on Trump’s vow to “take over” Gaza, the plan would establish a US-run trusteeship lasting at least 10 years, during which the Strip would be redeveloped into a high-tech manufacturing hub and tourism destination.

The proposal envisions a temporary relocation of Gaza’s more than 2 million residents, either through financially incentivised “voluntary” departures abroad or by confining them to restricted, secured zones inside the enclave during reconstruction.

A 38-page prospectus obtained by The Post states that Palestinians who own land would receive a “digital token” from an economic reconstruction trust, redeemable for either an apartment in one of six to eight planned AI-powered smart cities in Gaza or to fund resettlement abroad.

Those who opt to leave would receive a $5,000 cash payment, in addition to subsidies covering four years of rent and one year of food.

According to the plan’s calculations, each departure would save the trust roughly $23,000 compared with the cost of housing and providing so-called “life support” services for those remaining in the secured zones.

A proposal dubbed the “Gaza Reconstruction, Acceleration and Transformation Trust” (GREAT Trust) was reportedly developed by a group of Israelis who previously established the US-and Israeli-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,” which distributed food in the enclave. A team developed the financial modelling from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Last Wednesday, Donald Trump convened a White House meeting to discuss ideas for how to end the war in Gaza. Attendees included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. While no official statement was released, Witkoff said ahead of the session that the administration had a “very comprehensive plan.”

Unlike the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which relied on limited donations, the GREAT Trust would not depend on charity. Instead, the prospectus outlines investments in large-scale projects ranging from electric vehicle plants and data centres to beachfront resorts and high-rise apartments. The financial projections estimate that a $100 billion investment could generate nearly a fourfold return over a decade.

Since the Gaza war erupted on 7 October 2023, numerous “day after” proposals have circulated, the Biden administration proposed a temporary UN-led authority, while Egypt called for a technocratic Palestinian government financed by Arab states and possibly backed by Arab security forces—an initiative endorsed at the Arab leaders’ summit in May but rejected by both Washington and Tel Aviv.

Israel, meanwhile, has reportedly held talks with several countries about taking in displaced Palestinians, including Libya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somaliland, and Indonesia. All but the latter face poverty and internal conflicts. Somaliland has even offered to accept Gazans in exchange for international recognition of its independence.

Trump publicly sketched out his vision in February, saying: “I looked at a picture of Gaza—it’s a massive demolition site. It should be rebuilt in a different way. It’s a great location on the sea, with the best weather. You could do beautiful things there.” Two weeks later, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, he declared: “The United States will take over Gaza… Everyone I’ve spoken with loves the idea. Riviera of the Middle East—it could be something truly great.”

But the plan has already provoked sharp criticism across the Arab world and raised accusations of violating international law.

Egypt has repeatedly rejected any plan to forcibly displace Palestinians, stressing that such a move would constitute an injustice it would not be party to, and describing it as an attempt to liquidate the Palestinian cause.