New Delhi:
US President Donald Trump has announced plans to seize control of the Gaza Strip, replace an estimated 2 million Palestinian residents, and turn the ruined enclave into a luxurious destination. The plan, dubbed the “Middle Eastern Riviera,” is reminiscent of real estate projects that define Trump’s career, including New York’s iconic Trump Tower, but comes from the backdrop of over 60,000 dead Palestinians.
Trump’s Vision
Standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s White House, Trump declared that the US should take over Gaza and describe the project as “long-term ownership.” This means permanently evacuating the Palestinian population and redeveloping the area into a gorgeous seaside heaven.
“If we could find the right land, a lot of land and build a really great place with enough money in the area, that’s certainly true. I think it would be much better than going back to Gaza. “The US President said “Everyone I spoke to love the idea that America owns the land and develops and creates thousands of jobs with grandeur.”
Trump’s aides then tried to soften his comments. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made it clear that there are no plans to deploy US troops to Gaza. However, mere proposals for such a programme raised warnings about potential violations of international law and further escalation of conflicts in the Middle East.
Trump Family’s Middle East Link
The Middle East has become a favourable region for the Trump family’s business ventures, thanks to famous deals across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Israel. According to a report by the New York Times, which is affiliated with Saudi-based Dar Al-Alkan, the Trump organization develops luxury apartments, golf courses and hotels in Oman, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. The report claims that the Trump organization has already won $7.5 million on the Oman Project alone.
This new burst of Middle Eastern deals follows previous ventures of the Trump organization, including Trump International Golf Club in Dubai. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are very involved and have recently visited Oman to assess the progress of the project.
In addition to real estate, Trump’s family is in line with Liv Golf, a professional league funded by Saudi Arabia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund. Trump National Doral, near Miami, is scheduled to host one of the league’s tournaments for the fourth consecutive year in April this year.
Jared Kushner’s economic relationship
Jared Kushner, former presidential adviser and Trump’s son-in-law, has economic ties in the area.
“Gaza waterfront property – if people focus on accumulating livelihoods, that could be very valuable,” Kushner said at an event at Harvard last year. “There’s a bit of a bad situation there, but from an Israeli perspective, I think they’re doing their best to get people moving and clean it up. People then return there.”
His private equity company, Affinity Partners, raised $4.5 billion from sovereign wealth funds, primarily in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. According to The New York Times, Kushner has invested in Israeli companies, including Phoenix Holdings and Shlomo Holdings’ auto leasing arm.
Ethnic cleansing
Trump’s announcement comes as the Gaza Strip suffers immeasurable devastation. It has been reported that nearly 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 due to the ongoing conflict with Israel. The area was returned to Kura Rub, and the humanitarian crisis forced thousands to drive away.
Despite the devastating circumstances, Trump believes Gaza will transform into a high-end tourist destination, and claims that redevelopment will create thousands of jobs and bring stability to the region. However, his remarks have been criticized by human rights groups who view the proposal as an attempt to cleanse ethnic groups.
