Gaza will have skyscrapers and an airport if Hamas lays down its arms: Trump

The US's ambitious 'New Gaza' reconstruction plan centered on the devastated Gaza Strip was unveiled at a lavish event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The master plan was presented by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner at the signing ceremony of President Donald Trump's newly formed 'Board of Peace'.

The slides presented show skyscrapers lined up along the Mediterranean coast and a large housing project in the Rafah area. According to the plan, the entire Gaza Strip will be redeveloped into three parts - residential, agricultural and industrial. Praising Gaza's geographical location at the event, President Trump said that as a real estate developer, he saw the huge potential of the region from the beginning and that it was possible to turn Gaza's coastal land into one of the most beautiful assets in the world.

Jared Kushner, outlining the reconstruction plan, said that Gaza has accumulated about 60 million tons of debris from the last two years of war, the removal of which has already begun. The first phase aims to build more than 100,000 permanent homes, 200 educational institutions and 75 medical centers centered around the city of Rafah.

According to Kushner, "New Rafah" will be visible within the next two to three years. The proposed map also mentions the construction of a new seaport and airport in addition to a tourist center with 180 high-rise towers.

However, the White House has stated that the main condition for implementing this grand plan is the complete disarmament of Hamas. President Trump warned that if Hamas does not give up its weapons, their existence will be erased forever.

The plan has received mixed reactions in the international arena. Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised Trump's leadership but said that the real challenge will be to completely expel Hamas from Gaza. On the other hand, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has demanded a comprehensive peace plan as well as a central role for the Palestinian Authority in governing Gaza.

Source: BBC