President Donald Trump appeared to distance himself from his previously touted plan to turn Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One while on his way to Israel on Sunday, the president said: “I don’t know about the Riviera for a while, because you take a look at what you have. You have to get people taken care of first.”
Trump said that a lot of work would need to be done to clear the devastated enclave, adding: “It’s blasted. This is like a demolition site.”
Why It Matters
Trump appears to have suspended his controversial plan to turn Gaza into a tourism hotspot following the end of the war.
He made the comments while flying to Israel for the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attacks, as part of a ceasefire and hostage release deal that Trump helped broker.
What To Know
In February, Trump touted a controversial plan to turn the Gaza strip into the “Riviera of the Middle East” by reconstructing its destroyed neighborhoods, relocating Gazans and promoting tourism.
The U.S. president unveiled the plan in a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He later posted an AI-generated video showing Gaza reimagined as a luxury tourism destination, complete with bearded belly dancers.
The plan received widespread backlash from humanitarian groups and Arab states, particularly against the potential forced displacement of Palestinians.
Trump has since shifted to back a less extreme plan to rebuild Gaza for its residents, overseen by a “Board of Peace” chaired by him and made up of representatives from the international community.
On Sunday, Trump said that reconstruction of the strip would start “essentially immediately.”
He added that he would one day like to visit Gaza, saying: “I’d like to put my feet on it at least.”
Gaza has been left in ruins after two years of Israel’s war. The BBC previously reported that the enclave is littered with approximately 50 million tons of debris.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday: “The war is over.”
What Happens Next
The ceasefire appears to be holding, with the release of hostages and prisoners underway on Monday. It remains unclear whether peace will endure, and what the reconstruction of Gaza will look like.
