Luxury coastal resorts, high-speed railways, AI-optimized smart grids—welcome to the U.S. government’s draft "Sunrise Plan" for Gaza. Amid the war-torn ruins still visible across Gaza, the Trump administration has recently pitched an ambitious "leap forward" proposal to foreign governments and investors, aiming to transform the devastated enclave into a futuristic coastal destination.
Led by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, alongside two senior White House aides, a working group has drafted a proposal to turn the conflict-ridden territory into a high-tech metropolis. A 32-page PowerPoint presentation, marked "Sensitive but Unclassified," showcases images of beachfront skyscrapers alongside cost tables and charts, outlining steps to transition Gaza’s residents from tents to penthouses and from poverty to prosperity.
The proposal does not specify which countries or companies would fund Gaza’s reconstruction, nor does it detail where the 2 million displaced Palestinians would reside during the process. U.S. officials confirmed that the slides have been presented to potential donor nations, including wealthy Gulf states, Turkey, and Egypt.
The plan estimates a total cost of $112.1 billion over 10 years, with the U.S. pledging nearly $60 billion in grants and debt guarantees as the "core supporter" for all planning workflows. The proposal projects that Gaza could achieve self-financing for multiple projects in later years, with improved infrastructure driving local industries and economic growth to eventually repay debts.
Officials revealed that Kushner, Witkoff, senior White House aide Josh Gruenbaum, and others drafted the proposal over the past 45 days, incorporating feedback from Israeli officials, private-sector figures, and contractors. If launched, the plan would be updated and revised roughly every two years.
**The "Sunrise Plan’s" Vision** Supporters argue that leaving Gaza stagnant amid a worsening humanitarian crisis is the worse option, while realizing Trump’s vision of turning Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East" is the best path forward. The Riviera, stretching from southeastern France to northwestern Italy, is famed for its picturesque coastline, luxury resorts, and historic cities like Nice, Cannes, and Monaco.
A 20-year roadmap in the PowerPoint outlines reconstruction starting with clearing rubble, unexploded ordnance, and Hamas tunnels, while providing temporary shelters, field hospitals, and mobile clinics. Permanent housing, medical facilities, schools, and roads would follow, with long-term goals including luxury beachfront residences and modern transit hubs.
The plan divides reconstruction into four phases, beginning in southern Rafah and Khan Younis before moving north to a "central camp" and finally Gaza City. One slide titled "New Rafah" envisions it as Gaza’s "governance hub," housing over 500,000 residents in a futuristic "smart city" with 100,000+ homes, 200+ schools, 75+ medical centers, and 180 mosques and cultural sites. Illustrations depict high-speed trains, modern architecture, and advanced port facilities, emphasizing digital-driven infrastructure and governance.
**Skepticism Over Feasibility** Some U.S. officials reviewing the plan have expressed deep doubts, particularly over Hamas’s willingness to disarm—a prerequisite for the plan’s success. Even if Hamas complies, convincing wealthy nations to fund such a transformation remains a challenge.
"They can make all the slides they want," said Steven A. Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, who recently visited Israel but hasn’t reviewed the draft. "No one in Israel believes the status quo will change. Hamas won’t disarm, so nothing will move forward."
Despite a fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in early October 2025, peace and reconstruction face major hurdles. Official estimates indicate that two years of war have left Gaza buried under 68 million tons of rubble, with land contaminated by unexploded munitions and Hamas militants still entrenched.
The proposal’s second slide highlights in bold red text that Gaza’s reconstruction hinges on Hamas "disarming and destroying all weapons and tunnels." The U.S. also stated that the "Sunrise Plan" would only launch once a prolonged and fragile peace process nears completion.
U.S. envoy Witkoff is scheduled to meet with senior officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in Miami on the 19th to discuss advancing the second phase of Gaza ceasefire talks—the highest-level mediation effort since the initial truce. However, sources indicate both Israel and Hamas are accused of stalling progress, raising concerns among U.S. and mediating nations.