Donald Trump-led administration has dismissed a long-awaited reconstruction plan for Gaza put forth by Arab leaders, reaffirming its own vision for the region.
According to CNN, the White House maintains that US President Donald Trump supports a plan that involves expelling Palestinian residents and transforming Gaza into a “riviera” under US ownership.
In a statement on Tuesday night, White House national security council spokesperson Brian Hughes said, “The current proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance.”
“President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas. We look forward to further talks to bring peace and prosperity to the region,” Hughes added.
The Arab-backed proposal, led by Egypt, calls for Hamas to relinquish control to an interim administration until a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) assumes governance. Unlike Trump’s plan, the Egyptian framework would allow nearly 2 million Palestinians to remain in Gaza, CNN reported.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking in Cairo, announced that elections would be held in the West Bank, Gaza, and occupied East Jerusalem for the first time in nearly 20 years “if circumstances are suitable.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet publicly outlined his vision for Gaza’s future but has expressed support for Trump’s call for a “different Gaza.”
The $53 billion proposal from Arab nations aims to rebuild Gaza by 2030. The first phase includes clearing over 50 million tons of rubble from Israeli bombardment and military offensives, as well as removing unexploded ordnance.
Jordanian officials told CNN that the plan will be presented to Trump in the coming weeks, though the extent of its regional backing remains uncertain. While Egypt’s proposal has received broad Arab support, key leaders from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were absent from the summit. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune boycotted the meeting, criticising it as being “monopolized by a limited and narrow group of Arab countries” and citing “imbalances and shortcomings.”
The plan envisions the construction of shopping malls, an international convention center, and an airport within five years, alongside resort developments along Gaza’s Mediterranean coast. It also acknowledges the challenge of disarming terrorist groups in Gaza, stating, “It is something that can be dealt with, and even ended forever, only if its causes are removed through a clear horizon and a credible political process.”
In February, President Trump declared that the United States would take control of the Gaza Strip, dismantle dangerous weapons, clear debris, and oversee economic development.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site and getting rid of the destroyed buildings. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”
Expressing hope for regional stability, the US president added, “I’m hopeful that this ceasefire could be the beginning of a larger and more enduring peace that will end the bloodshed and killing once and for all. With the same goal in mind, my administration has been moving quickly to restore trust in the alliance and rebuild American strength throughout the region.”
