As Palestinians return to their devastated homes in the Gaza Strip following 15 months of conflict between Hamas and Israel, President Donald Trump recently suggested transforming the area into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

During a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump envisioned making the enclave an “international, unbelievable place” filled with “people from around the world.”

His remarks came shortly after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire that allows for the temporary release of certain Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. This agreement included plans for a rebuilding phase lasting up to five years in the war-torn region.

Since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports that approximately 62,000 Palestinians have died, although some estimates suggest the number could exceed 70,000. Around 25% of all buildings in Gaza have been destroyed, with nearly 70% suffering damage due to the conflict.

Trump’s team now believes that the rebuilding process may take up to three times longer than originally anticipated, prompting worries among Palestinians. Trump suggested that they should consider relocating to neighboring countries while the U.S. assumes “long-term ownership” of the area.

Trump’s Gaza Vision

Trump’s remarks echoed previous comments from his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who claimed Gaza’s “waterfront property” could hold significant value.

The statements also indicated that Trump seems more aligned with Netanyahu’s interests in Gaza compared to former President Joe Biden, who had pressed for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu has consistently turned down calls from the Biden administration to pursue this path.

Last year, Netanyahu stated that “the state of Israel has to control the entire area from the river to the sea,” encompassing the occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank.

John Kirby, then national security advisor at the White House, noted, “We obviously see it differently,” in response to Netanyahu’s stance.

Currently, nearly 90% of the 2.2 million residents of Gaza have been displaced, with little infrastructure remaining intact. An Amnesty International report suggests that the displacement was “intentional,” according to statements from Israeli officials directing the military offensive.

Understanding the Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip is a narrow coastal area bordering Israel and Egypt, covering just under 140 square miles. This size is comparable to Philadelphia but with a population 33% larger.

Before the current conflict, Gaza was home to 2.2 million people, with about 1.4 million (70%) classified as refugees who were displaced from other regions, according to the United Nations.

The war has resulted in the displacement of an estimated 90% of the population, around 1.9 million individuals.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas initiated a surprise assault on Israeli border communities, resulting in 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel imposed a siege and conducted extensive bombing campaigns in Gaza.

Various humanitarian organizations now accuse Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. These include indiscriminate attacks on civilians, bombings in areas designated as safe, and employing starvation as a weapon of war.

Both Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant are under investigation by the International Criminal Court for these alleged crimes, and senior Hamas officials involved in planning the October 7 attack are also wanted for war crimes.

The Ownership of the Gaza Strip

Despite Israel’s stated aim to dismantle Hamas, the militant group continues to govern the enclave.

Hamas gained control of Gaza after winning parliamentary elections in 2006 and has since taken over many governmental functions in the area.

Although Israel withdrew its military presence in 2005, it established blockades on Gaza’s borders in 2007 following escalating violence from both sides. This blockade has severely restricted the movement of Palestinians, leading Human Rights Watch to refer to Gaza as “the world’s largest open-air prison.”

For many Palestinians, Trump’s suggestion resonates with memories of the 1948 Nakba – or catastrophe in Arabic – when a significant number of Palestinians were displaced following the establishment of Israel.

Israel first captured Gaza from Egypt during the 1967 Six-Day War and maintained military control for about four decades until Hamas took over in the 2000s.

During this period, Palestinians initiated two uprisings, known as intifadas, in 1987 and 2000, resulting in over 1,000 Israeli and more than 4,100 Palestinian deaths.

The Palestinian Authority gained control of Gaza after the 1993 Oslo Accords were signed between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which then represented the Palestinian people, aiming to lay the groundwork for a peace process and the formation of separate states. The authority still governs small areas of the West Bank, which remains predominantly under Israeli control.