Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has suggested the Gaza Strip could be a real estate bonanza and stated he is in discussions with the US about dividing up the territory after the war, a plan condemned internationally.
Speaking at an event in Tel Aviv, he remarked, a business plan is on President Trump's table, following a previous statement he made: We've done the demolition phase... Now we need to build. This follows Trump’s assertion regarding a proposed US long-term ownership of Gaza, earlier characterized as the potential Riviera of the Middle East. The plan has drawn widespread condemnation, as it necessitates the forced removal of Palestinians from their land, violating international law.
The US and Israeli government officials claim the proposal would involve voluntary emigration. The BBC has reached out to the US State Department for clarification on Smotrich's recent assertions.
Although Trump's original vision was broadly rejected by Palestinians and Arab nations, reports indicated a revival of these discussions, exploring the establishment of a US-administered trusteeship over Gaza to develop it into a tourism and manufacturing hub.
Amid these discussions, Israel's military operations have wrought notable devastation throughout Gaza. The UN estimates that 92% of housing has been impacted, calling for $53.2 billion in reconstruction over the next decade.
Smotrich, leading the ultranationalist Religious Zionist party, has faced sanctions for inciting violence against Palestinians and continues to advocate for expansionist policies in the West Bank.
The ongoing war launched in response to a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, has seen over 65,000 deaths, with a significant portion being women and children.
A UN commission recently concluded that Israel has engaged in genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim firmly contested by the Israeli government.
