U.S. presents plan to turn Gaza into resort - report

A U.S. proposal to rebuild Gaza into a luxurious coastal destination over the next two decades has been pitched to possible donor countries.

The project, which would cost $112.1 billion over the first 10 years, was developed by a team led by U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff over the past 45 days, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Initially, the U.S. would commit to “anchor” the program by providing $60 billion, while envisioning Gaza being able to self-fund parts of the proposal as it gets underway.

The 32 pages of PowerPoint slides, labeled “sensitive but unclassified” and detailing a four-stage vision to clear the rubble, rebuild the Strip, and take Gazans out of poverty has been shown to wealthy Gulf countries, Turkey, and Egypt, the Journal reported.

The plan has received mixed opinions among U.S. officials, with some skeptical that Hamas will relinquish its weapons, thereby allowing it to be implemented, or even if potential donor nations would fund the proposal, according to the Journal.