Trump mulls plan to pay Palestinians $5K to leave Gaza during post-war rebuild, claims report

WASHINGTON, DC: As Gaza faces a severe humanitarian crisis after nearly two years of conflict and blockade, the White House is reportedly considering a controversial proposal to pay Palestinians $5,000 and offer other incentives to voluntarily relocate for 10 years during the post-war rebuild.

The proposal paves the way for a dramatic transformation of the Gaza Strip into the “Gaza Trump Riviera.” The plan, called the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation (GREAT) Plan, envisions the US taking control of Gaza under a trusteeship. So what exactly does this plan promise? Read on to find out more.

US ‘GREAT’ plan offers cash and housing to relocate 2M Gaza residents

According to the Washington Post, the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation (GREAT) plan calls for the United States to take control of Gaza under a trusteeship for at least 10 years. During that period, the US would oversee a massive reconstruction effort funded by billions of dollars from both public and private sources.

To make room for redevelopment, planners aim to temporarily relocate all 2 million residents of Gaza. The proposal depends on Palestinians voluntarily leaving the area, either by moving to another country or settling in designated safe zones within the strip. 

To encourage this relocation, the plan offers each participant $5,000 in cash, four years of free housing elsewhere, and a one-year supply of food. The trust behind the project values each future apartment in the newly built smart cities at $75,000.

By comparison, the trust claims it would save $23,000 per person by incentivizing departures rather than covering the higher costs of providing temporary shelter and ongoing support for those who choose to remain in Gaza.

Who has written the GREAT plan for Gaza that White House is considering?

The proposal was developed by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid group that works with the Israeli military and relies on private US security and logistics firms to deliver food aid into Gaza. The group is supported by both the Trump administration and Israel as an alternative to the UN-led system, which Israeli officials argue allows militants to divert aid.

Reuters previously reported that the plan called for the creation of large-scale camps, known as “Humanitarian Transit Areas,” inside Gaza, and possibly outside, to house Palestinians.

According to the Washington Post, landowners would be offered a “digital token” in exchange for redevelopment rights. Each Palestinian who agreed to leave would receive $5,000 in cash, four years of rent subsidies, and a year of food. 

What are the goals of Gaza’s proposed redevelopment?

The reconstruction plan begins with clearing massive piles of debris, removing unexploded ordnance, and rebuilding Gaza’s utilities and electrical grid. Planners note that the trust would immediately take control of the 30% of Gaza’s land already classified as public, using it as collateral to cover initial expenses.

Investors would finance several large-scale infrastructure projects, including highways, ports, airports, desalination plants, and solar energy arrays. The proposal also calls for a new perimeter road around Gaza, dubbed the “MBS Highway.”

The prospectus claims the trust will actively pursue major funding from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman if the plan advances, although Saudi Arabia has not expressed any support so far.

According to the plan, central Gaza would become a newly developed residential zone for returning Palestinians, featuring apartment complexes, business districts, schools, hospitals, and green spaces such as farmland, parks, and even golf courses.

On Gaza’s eastern border with Israel, planners envision an industrial zone with electric vehicle factories and data centers. Along the Mediterranean coastline, the project brands the area as the “Gaza Trump Riviera,” featuring world-class resorts and potentially artificial islands modeled after those in Dubai. 

Gaza plan aims for profits and US administrative control

The plan projects a fourfold return on a $100 billion investment over 10 years, along with ongoing, self-sustaining revenue streams. It claims to operate without direct US government funding and explicitly states that it does not rely on donations.

According to the proposal, the US would assume administrative authority in Gaza through a bilateral agreement with Israel, granting the “GREAT” Trust operational control. The plan envisions the trust gradually evolving into a multilateral institution as more foreign governments increase their investments.

During the first year, Israel would retain overarching authority to address its security needs. In the meantime, third-country nationals and private military contractors would manage internal security. Eventually, local police forces would assume responsibility for daily law enforcement.

The proposal states that the trust would govern Gaza until a “reformed and deradicalized” Palestinian leadership is prepared to take control. The White House has not commented on the report.