Trump's New Gaza Plan: Glittering Skyscrapers and Major Tourism Push

US President Donald Trump has announced a new plan to rebuild Gaza into a glittering metropolis with a strong coastal tourism industry along the Mediterreanean.

Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, was one of the primary officials advocating for their new proposal, labeling it as a "masterplan." He also stated that the only possible way the plan could fail is if Hamas refuses to demilitarize the strip, which would be the next phase in Trump's 20-point ceasefire plan between Israel and Palestine. However, various countries – along with some experts – expressed other concerns that the US may attempt to relocate existing Palestinian citizens of Gaza to complete the redevelopment.

The proposal, presented after the inauguration of Trump's Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum, includes over 180 mixed-use towers on Gaza's coast along the Mediterranean Sea, providing the enclave with a new economic engine. Behind this mixed-use area would be blocks of residential areas, separated by parks, sports facilities, and farms.

Meanwhile, the infrastructure and road network would also be developed through these centers, and the industrial areas required to run a city would be placed on the outside of the strip, on the border with Israel. An airport was also included in this border area, placed next to a large logistics area and a major port.

The design was rather crude and did not include very many specificities, making it appear relatively rushed, but they did mention that the area will be split up into New Gaza and New Rafah. New Gaza is set to be the economic hub of the enclave, encompassing most of the major mixed-use skyscrapers, while New Rafah will be a massive residential region containing over 100,000 homes and 200 schools.

During the proposal speech, Kushner also avoided defining any existing investors but urged the private sector to take advantage of this opportunity despite its potential risks.

Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Scotland wanted to replicate the Parthenon bigger and cheaper in 1826. It was never completed and is now nicknamed “Scotland’s Disgrace.”

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.(Buddha)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Astrolabe (noun, A-struh-layb) - An astrolabe is a compact instrument used to observe and calculate the position of celestial bodies before the invention of the sextant.

In a Sentence: The new astronomy exhibit featured various gadgets and instruments, including an extensive collection of astrolabes.

Image credit to Getty Images