Jan. 22 (UPI) — President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and U.S. special envoy Jared Kushner revealed a masterplan for Gaza’s reconstruction while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.
Kushner laid out an estimated $25 billion rebuilding project that includes skyscrapers, schools, urban housing and medical facilities. He said the detailed blueprint would turn Gaza into a regional economic power by 2035, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The rebuilding will proceed if Hamas disarms as required by a peace agreement, Kushner said.
“If Hamas does not demilitarize, that will be what holds back the people of Gaza from achieving their aspirations,” he said, as reported by CNN.
Kushner presented the rebuilding plans for Gaza after the signing of the charter for the Board of Peace that Trump created, he said, to help ensure a lasting peace in Gaza.
The rebuilding plan includes a coastal tourism zone capable of holding up to 180 skyscrapers, many of which would be hotels.
Gaza also would get a new port facility, which likely would be among the first items completed to enable the rest of the rebuilding to occur.
A new airport also would be built to replace the old one that was demolished by military conflict more than 20 years ago.
Kushner said two new urban developments are part of the masterplan and would be named New Gaza and New Rafah.
New Rafah would contain more than 100,000 housing units and more than 200 schools and healthcare facilities.
That part of the masterplan could be finished within three years, and work already is underway to remove debris, Kushner said.
New Gaza will be an industrial center capable of fully employing all able-bodied Gazans and would resemble similar communities in Dubai and Doha.
Kushner said various governments would provide funding to begin construction to implement the masterplan.
Private investors also are expected to participate in what Kushner called an “amazing investment” opportunity for them.
“I know it’s a little risky to be investing in a place like this,” Kushner told his audience. “But we need you to come, take faith [and] invest in the people.”
Palestinian officials mostly have remained silent on the matter, but at least one third-party official criticized the plan as a threat.
“Palestinians face a plan to eliminate their very presence, based on domestication, subjugation and control,” said Ramy Adbu, founder of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor.
The newly formed Board of Peace will deploy a special committee made up of Palestinians to oversee the demilitarization that is needed to enable Gaza to be rebuilt.
The demilitarization would include removing the Israeli Defense Forces, which currently occupy about half of the Gaza Strip.
The IDF would withdraw to a predetermined security perimeter that is intended to maintain a lasting peace.
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