Washington Post Unveils Trump’s Controversial Gaza ‘GREAT Trust’ Plan: A Displacement Scheme?
In a recent revelation, a 38-page plan from the Trump administration has emerged, proposing a controversial U.S.-run trusteeship for postwar Gaza. This ambitious proposal aims to turn the war-torn enclave into a luxurious destination featuring resorts and technology industries, but it also involves the displacement of millions of Palestinians. The details of this plan, which has been widely criticized, are outlined in a document obtained by The Washington Post.
The plan, titled the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation (GREAT) Trust, suggests relocating the entire population of Gaza, which exceeds two million people. Here are some key points of the proposal:
- The plan proposes “voluntary” departures for residents, either abroad or to “secure zones” within Gaza during a ten-year rebuilding phase.
- Individuals who agree to leave would receive a cash incentive of $5,000, four years’ rent, and food provisions for a year.
- Participants would also be given digital land “tokens” that could be exchanged for apartments in new “AI-powered smart cities.”
- The plan, developed with the input of Israeli business leaders and U.S. consultants, anticipates that investors could potentially quadruple a $100 billion investment within a decade.
President Donald Trump has been vocal about his intentions regarding Gaza, describing it as a prime location for a “Riviera of the Middle East.” This vision, which has received backing from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, views the devastation in Gaza as an opportunity for real estate development while sidelining the rights of Palestinians who have suffered through nearly two years of conflict and siege.
Since the onset of the conflict in October 2023, the situation in Gaza has become dire. Reports indicate that the war has resulted in the deaths of over 63,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and has displaced hundreds of thousands more. Humanitarian organizations report that nearly half a million residents are facing catastrophic levels of hunger, with the United Nations estimating that 90 percent of homes in the region have been destroyed. International law experts have condemned Israel’s actions, describing the campaign as collective punishment and warning that it could amount to genocide.
Critically, the Trump plan does not provide any pathway to Palestinian sovereignty. Instead, it proposes a foreign trusteeship overseen by private security contractors and Western investors. Rutgers law professor Adil Haque emphasized to The Post that the denial of the right of return for Palestinians, regardless of financial compensation, is unlawful. For many Palestinians, this proposal is reminiscent of the Nakba of 1948, when over 700,000 individuals were forcibly expelled during the establishment of Israel, as well as the events surrounding the 1967 war when Gaza and the West Bank were occupied in violation of international law.
Palestinians have consistently rejected offers or pressures to relocate to other countries, expressing their desire to remain in their ancestral homeland. Resistance movements in Gaza, along with their supporters, argue that persistent struggle is essential to preserve Palestinian existence against initiatives that seek to erase their identity under the guise of reconstruction.
In summary, critics of Trump’s proposal argue that it represents a colonial strategy: to dispossess a people of their land, commodify their suffering, and effectively sell their homeland to the highest bidder. The implications of such a plan raise significant ethical and legal questions, igniting further discourse on the rights and future of Palestinians in Gaza.
