Trump's 'Board of Peace' Showcases Dystopian 'New Gaza' in Controversial Davos Presentation
The so-called "Board of Peace", an initiative backed by former US President Donald Trump, has unveiled a highly contentious real estate prospectus detailing a futuristic vision for a post-conflict Gaza Strip. The proposal, presented today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, depicts the war-torn coastal enclave transformed into a glittering tourism and investment paradise, lined with skyscrapers and modern infrastructure.
A $25 Billion Vision for Economic Transformation
During the high-profile presentation, Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and a key architect of the plan, outlined a $25 billion (£18.5 billion) proposal aimed at radically reshaping Gaza's economy. The vision, branded as "New Gaza" and "New Rafah", promises to turn the region into a major business hub, projecting a Gaza GDP of $10 billion (£7.4 billion) by the year 2035. Kushner argued the plan would empower Gazans through the creation of jobs, training programmes, and enhanced services.
The detailed slides presented to the forum showcased a relentlessly developed landscape, featuring:
- A coastline dotted with 180 mixed-use high-rise towers designated for coastal tourism.
- Vast residential neighbourhoods with white homes arranged in concentric circles.
- Industrial zones allocated for data centres and manufacturing facilities.
- Major infrastructure projects including a new port, an airport, and a trilateral crossing at Rafah.
- An extensive American-style network of ring roads to connect urban communities.
Intense Criticism and Accusations of Exploitation
The proposal has ignited widespread outrage and condemnation, particularly among displaced Palestinians and human rights observers. Critics have labelled the plan a dystopian real-estate scheme that exploits the region's strategic location and natural resources, rather than addressing the humanitarian crisis or political rights of Palestinians.
Manal al-Qouqa, a displaced Gazan mother, told Al Jazeera that Palestinian suffering "only increases" with each new announcement from external powers. Another displaced Palestinian, Suhail al-Hanawi, expressed deep scepticism, stating: "Regarding the Board of Peace and us, the displaced in the camp, there’s nothing tangible that makes us feel that anything will actually be fixed or that our suffering will be eased." He further accused both Netanyahu and Trump of being "behind wars worldwide".
Social media commentary has been fiercely critical, with one user alleging the plan is "solely aimed at stealing Gaza's natural gas and other resources, exploiting its crucial strategic location, and eliminating the right of return and effectively ending the Palestinian cause." The proposal has also stirred uncomfortable memories of the Trump administration's earlier, AI-fuelled schemes for the region.
Controversial Composition of the 'Board of Peace'
Adding to the controversy is the announced composition of the Board of Peace itself. President Trump stated today that the board would include Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite Russia's ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. The board is also set to feature representatives from other contentious regimes, including authoritarian states in Europe like Belarus and Hungary, as well as brutal Middle Eastern regimes such as Saudi Arabia.
This association with figures accused of war crimes and human rights abuses has further fuelled accusations that the board and its Gaza plan are less about genuine peace and development, and more about economic and geopolitical exploitation. The plan places the future of Gaza, and by extension the displaced Palestinian population, in the hands of external powers and the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, whose military actions have resulted in massive casualties since October 2023.
The unveiling at Davos marks a significant, and deeply polarising, moment in the discourse surrounding Gaza's future, presenting a stark, property-driven vision that clashes profoundly with the immediate realities of destruction, displacement, and humanitarian need on the ground.
