Trump’s 'Riviera of the Middle East' plan sparks backlash—Is Jared Kushner pulling the strings?
Jared Kushner (left) is a senior adviser to his father-in-law, US President Donald Trump. PHOTO: AFP
U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to transform the Gaza Strip into a luxury beach resort has reignited debates about his administration’s ties to real estate ambitions and the ethical implications of displacing Palestinians.
The idea, which Trump described as creating “The Riviera of the Middle East,” echoes earlier comments made by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who once called the Arab-Israeli conflict “nothing more than a real-estate dispute.”
Do Republicans now think American voters cast their 2024 ballot so that their kids would be deployed to a war in the Middle East to fight against Palestinians in Gaza, force them to leave, and then give the land to Israel and Jared Kushner?
I don't remember polls showing that: https://t.co/1fZBSvl0cQDuring a press conference on Tuesday, Trump suggested that Gaza could be “better than Monaco” if redeveloped under U.S. control. This vision, however, has been met with widespread condemnation. Palestinian leaders, human rights advocates, and even Gulf nations have rejected the plan, calling it a form of “ethnic cleansing” and a violation of international law.
Kushner, a former real estate developer and Trump’s special Middle East envoy during his first term, previously highlighted the potential value of Gaza’s waterfront property.
At a Harvard event in February 2024, Kushner stated, “Gaza’s waterfront property, it could be very valuable, if people would focus on building up livelihoods.” He added, “It’s a little bit of an unfortunate situation there, but I think from Israel’s perspective, I would do my best to move the people out and then clean it up.”
Jared Kushner: "Gaza's waterfront property, it could be very valuable... But I think from Israel's perspective I would do my best to move the people out and then clean it up"
WE FUCKING WARNED YOU.pic.twitter.com/XVqKfhsLJVThe proposal has drawn sharp criticism on social media, with many accusing Trump and Kushner of prioritizing real estate profits over human rights. Journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted, “Palestinians will never voluntarily leave. So is Trump proposing yet another US war for Israel, this time to ethnically cleanse Gaza and give Jared Kushner real estate holdings?”
Gaza is now rubble: because of the sociopath sitting next to Trump grinning, knowing he owns the US.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 5, 2025
Palestinians will never voluntarily leave. So is Trump proposing yet another US war for Israel, this time to ethnically cleanse Gaza and give Jared Kushner real estate holdings? https://t.co/DF0kOgjNHHTrump is going to build condos from the river to the sea. It’s not like Jared Kushner didn’t tell us the plan. America is full of stupidity
Similarly, commentator Acyn quoted McGovern, who said, “People voted for lower egg prices, not for a Middle East Mar-a-lago. People did not vote to send their sons and daughters into the tunnels of Gaza so that Jared Kushner and Donald Trump can build Trump Tower Gaza.”
McGovern: People voted for lower egg prices, not for a Middle East Mar-a-lago. People did not vote to send their sons and daughters into the tunnels of Gaza so that Jared Kushner and Donald Trump can build Trump Tower Gaza. pic.twitter.com/hB7HO17AHO
Saudi Arabia, a key player in the region, has also expressed skepticism. A source close to the royal court in Riyadh stated, “It has not been thought through and is impossible to implement, so he will eventually realize that.” The Saudi foreign ministry further emphasized its rejection of any plan to displace Palestinians.
Despite the backlash, Trump’s vision has found support among some Israeli settler groups, who see it as an opportunity to reclaim land abandoned in 2005. The Nachala Movement, which promotes Jewish settlement in the West Bank, tweeted, “Assuming Trump’s comments about transferring Gazans to other countries are translated into practice, we must hurry and establish settlements throughout the Gaza Strip.”
As the controversy unfolds, the practical challenges of such a plan remain daunting. Gaza’s complex land ownership laws, ongoing conflict, and the estimated $100 billion cost of reconstruction make the proposal seem far-fetched. For now, Trump’s Gaza “Riviera” remains a polarizing idea, highlighting the intersection of politics, real estate, and human rights in one of the world’s most contentious regions.