Arab League seeks to oppose Trump's Gaza Riviera plan

Earlier this week, former U.S. President Donald Trump shared a viral video on social media, depicting his AI-generated vision for the future of Gaza. The video showcased extravagant imagery, including a golden Trump statue, Elon Musk, and Palestinian children tossing dollar bills, while Trump himself lounged at a beach resort alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The soundtrack featured lyrics proclaiming, "No more tunnels, no more fear, Trump Gaza is finally here."

The video follows Trump’s recent suggestion that the U.S. should take control of Gaza and transform it into the "Riviera of the Middle East." His proposed plan includes relocating nearly 2 million Palestinians, likely to Egypt and Jordan. The idea has sparked international outrage, with the UN warning that such actions could be considered ethnic cleansing.

The controversy surrounding the AI-generated clip comes at a time when alternative and more practical solutions are being sought for Gaza’s reconstruction. Over a year of conflict has left more than 60% of Gaza’s buildings destroyed, following an Israeli military operation in response to Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023. A recent World Bank report estimated that Gaza’s recovery would require $53.2 billion over a decade, with $20 billion needed in the first three years to restore essential services, rebuild infrastructure, and revive the economy.

In response to these challenges, Egypt has announced that it will consider these assessments at the upcoming Arab League emergency summit on Gaza’s reconstruction, set for March 4 in Cairo. According to Riccardo Fabiani of the International Crisis Group, Egypt intends to present an alternative strategy to Trump’s proposal. The joint Arab reconstruction plan is expected to focus on a political resolution based on the two-state solution while firmly rejecting any forced displacement of Palestinians.

However, any proposal emerging from the summit will face significant obstacles. Israel has consistently opposed an independent Palestinian state, and the U.S. stance remains uncertain. Arab leaders are expected to propose the formation of a technocratic committee of engineers, architects, economists, and planners to oversee reconstruction, but this would require acceptance from both Hamas and Israel. While Egypt seeks to exclude Hamas from direct involvement, Israel and the U.S. remain skeptical about any role for the group.

Despite these challenges, experts see a joint Arab proposal as a potentially influential diplomatic move. Nathan Brown, a political science professor at George Washington University, argues that if Arab nations collectively support a comprehensive plan for Gaza’s reconstruction and regional stability, it would be difficult for the U.S. to dismiss it. However, he also notes that barriers remain, including political unpredictability in the U.S. and staunch opposition from Israeli leadership.

Sigrid Kaag, the UN’s newly appointed Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, recently told the UN Security Council that the current situation might represent the last opportunity to achieve a two-state solution. With the initial phase of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas concluding on March 1, ongoing negotiations may shape the next steps. Given the timing of the Arab League summit, Cairo could leverage the moment to propose a phased approach to Gaza’s reconstruction and broader regional stability.