Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A controversial U.S.-backed plan to administer post-war Gaza for at least a decade has emerged, according to a report published Sunday by The Washington Post. The plan, tied to the administration of President Donald Trump, envisions a long-term American role in managing the war-torn strip, temporary relocation of residents, and the transformation of Gaza into a tourist and industrial hub.
The 38-page document, seen by the newspaper, outlines a proposal under which Gaza’s estimated two million residents would be relocated either “voluntarily” to other countries or to designated areas within the strip during a lengthy reconstruction phase. The reconstruction project would be led by a controversial U.S.-backed relief organization named the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is favored by both the Trump administration and Israeli officials over the traditional United Nations-led humanitarian mechanisms.
According to the report, displaced Palestinians would receive financial incentives including a $5,000 cash payment, rent assistance for up to four years, and food aid for one year. Additionally, landowners would be issued “digital codes” in exchange for redevelopment rights on their properties.
The plan, formally titled the “Gaza Reconstruction, Economic Acceleration and Transformation Fund,” proposes that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation coordinate logistics in collaboration with the Israeli military. It also involves the use of private U.S.-based security and logistics firms to deliver aid, bypassing traditional UN channels, which Israel has long accused of allowing militant factions like Hamas to divert resources.
The plan reportedly includes the creation of large-scale humanitarian “transit zones” within Gaza and possibly outside it, to house displaced residents.
The proposal aligns with remarks made by Trump earlier in 2025, in which he suggested the United States should “take control” of Gaza and transform it into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” On February 4, he publicly floated the idea of relocating Gaza’s population and rebuilding the strip as a resort and industrial center, sparking outrage among Palestinians and humanitarian organizations who viewed it as a push for forced displacement.
So far, neither the White House nor the U.S. State Department has officially commented on the plan, but its principles reflect broader statements previously made by Trump regarding Gaza’s future.
On the ground, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Israeli forces conducted overnight air and ground operations on the outskirts of Gaza City, destroying residential buildings and displacing additional families. The Israeli security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is expected to meet to discuss further military and administrative control over Gaza.
Over the past three weeks, the Israeli military has ramped up its operations in Gaza City, gradually ending temporary ceasefires that had previously allowed aid deliveries. The city is now designated a “dangerous combat zone” by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, warned on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that the military’s designation of Gaza as a combat zone threatens food access and endangers humanitarian workers. She cautioned that this development could “significantly reduce” the amount of food reaching residents.
A recent report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global hunger-monitoring system, found that approximately 514,000 people about one-quarter of Gaza’s population, are facing famine conditions in Gaza City and surrounding areas.
The Israeli government has rejected the IPC report, calling it biased and inaccurate, alleging that the assessment relied heavily on data from Hamas and failed to account for recent increases in food deliveries.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian death toll continues to mount. The United Nations reported in early August that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access aid since May 2025, coinciding with the start of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s operations. Most of those deaths were caused by Israeli fire near the foundation’s distribution zones.
The reported U.S. proposal, if implemented, would mark a dramatic shift in how Gaza is governed and rebuilt, placing Washington in a central and highly controversial role. Critics argue that the plan risks deepening the humanitarian crisis and violating international laws on displacement and occupation, while proponents frame it as a bold step toward rebuilding a stable, post-conflict Gaza.
The situation remains fluid as diplomatic and military developments unfold, and it is unclear whether the plan will gain official backing or international legitimacy in its current form.
