Trump Administration Unveils Ambitious Gaza Reconstruction Plan
The Trump administration has presented a detailed blueprint for Gaza's future that represents a significant departure from previous approaches. Amid the fanfare of the "board of peace" launch in Davos, senior officials outlined both immediate and long-term plans aimed at creating lasting stability in the troubled territory.
A Vision for Unified Palestinian Governance
The plan envisages a unified Palestinian-run Gaza, directly challenging the aims of Israeli extremists within the governing coalition who have advocated for population deportation and settlement construction. This represents a notable rebuff to those seeking permanent partition between Hamas and Israeli-controlled sections.
Jared Kushner's presentation in Davos depicted a futuristic vision of gleaming apartment blocks, office towers, industrial parks, and even an airport. While the territory would include a buffer zone along the Israeli border, the overall approach moves away from partition concepts that have dominated previous discussions.
Property Rights and Practical Challenges
The blueprint has drawn criticism for treating Gaza as a blank slate, largely ignoring the property rights of generations of Palestinians whose homes have been destroyed. However, administration officials argue this approach is necessary for comprehensive reconstruction.
The plan's success hinges on several critical factors: the Trump administration's determination to implement it despite Israeli objections, the creation of mechanisms to oversee Hamas disarmament, and the establishment of credible Palestinian governance structures.
Immediate Priorities and Infrastructure Restoration
More immediately achievable promises focus on the next 100 days, including restoration of basic infrastructure such as water, sewage, and electrical systems, along with hospitals and bakeries. A significant increase in goods entering Gaza is planned, with the critical Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt scheduled to reopen next week for the first time since Israeli troops seized control in May 2024.
Kushner emphasized the administration's commitment to these short-term goals, stating: "The next 100 days we're going to continue to just be heads down and focused on making sure this is implemented. We continue to be focused on humanitarian aid, humanitarian shelter, but then creating the conditions to move forward."
New Governance Structures and Implementation
The plan places implementation responsibility primarily on the newly formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a panel of Palestinian non-partisan technocrats tasked with running Gaza during a transition period. The board of peace will be represented in Gaza by veteran Bulgarian and UN diplomat Nickolay Mladenov as "high representative."
NCAG chair Ali Shaath, addressing world leaders from Cairo via video link, spoke directly to Gazans largely ignored in previous peace plans: "Step by step, with discipline and determination, we will rebuild a capable Gaza, capable of self-reliance, and we will build it into a centre for freedom, opportunity and peace."
The Critical Issue of Weapons and Security
Perhaps the most challenging aspect involves disarmament. The plan states that "all weapon possession in the future Gaza can be authorized by one authority only (NCAG)." This addresses a major hurdle to turning the current ceasefire into a lasting truce, as US and Israeli officials agree there will be no further Israeli withdrawals until Hamas disarms.
Reports suggest Hamas has agreed in principle to hand over heavy weapons to a Palestinian administration and may accept the NCAG's authority. To test this, Shaath and the NCAG would need to enter Gaza with a Palestinian police force trained in Jordan and Egypt over recent months.
Notable Omissions and Immediate Tests
The Davos presentation notably omitted mention of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), a key component of Trump's previous peace proposals endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution. Creating the ISF has proven problematic, with potential troop contributors reluctant to confront Hamas over weaponry.
The immediate test comes next week with the planned reopening of the Rafah crossing. Shaath described this as signaling "Gaza is no longer closed to the future or to the world. This is a real step and it marks a new direction."
Political Opposition and Implementation Hurdles
Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet faces considerable internal opposition to reopening Rafah, particularly regarding the return of remains of Israeli hostage Ran Gvili. More significantly, far-right coalition members strongly oppose establishing Palestinian interim governance in territory they seek to annex.
The plan doesn't explicitly state that Gaza would become part of a sovereign Palestinian state, but doesn't exclude this possibility either. The NCAG would likely struggle to recruit credible Palestinian members if it completely ruled out eventual unification.
Withdrawal Timelines and Future Prospects
Under the plan, the Israeli army would withdraw progressively from Gazan territory based on "agreed-upon standards," though specific details remain unclear, raising questions about Israeli compliance. For Gaza's population, mostly living in tents under regular Israeli fire, the most encouraging aspect may be Trump's personal investment in the ceasefire he brokered last year.
The president's prestige and that of his "board of peace" appear wrapped up in the plan's success, potentially providing the political momentum needed to overcome substantial implementation hurdles. Whether this proves sufficient to achieve a free and peaceful Gaza remains to be seen as the blueprint faces its first practical tests in the coming weeks.
