The US has unveiled its plans for a New Gaza that would see the devastated Palestinian territory rebuilt from scratch.
Slides showed dozens of skyscrapers stretching along the Mediterranean coast and housing estates in the Rafah area, while a map outlining the phased development of new residential, agricultural and industrial areas for the 2.1 million population.
They were presented during a signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos for President Donald Trump's new Board of Peace, which is tasked with ending the two-year war between Israel and Hamas and overseeing reconstruction.
We're going to be very successful in Gaza. It's going to be a great thing to watch, Trump declared.
I'm a real estate person at heart and it's all about location. And I said: 'Look at this location on the sea. Look at this beautiful piece of property. What it could be for so many people.'
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who helped broker the ceasefire that took effect in October, said 90,000 tonnes of munitions had been dropped on Gaza and there were 60 million tonnes of rubble to clear.
Redevelopment would be divided into four phases, starting in Rafah and then gradually moving north towards Gaza City. The plan envisions a zone for coastal tourism, housing units, education centers, and a new seaport and airport near the Egyptian border.
Kushner also declared that the demilitarisation of Gaza was starting now, stressing that without security, investment opportunities would be impossible.
In the coming weeks, a conference in Washington will outline contributions from various countries for the New Gaza initiative, which aims to transform the territory amidst a backdrop of humanitarian crises and complex geopolitical tensions.
