Trump’s “Make Gaza GREAT” Riviera vision gathers momentum as Washington blocks Palestinian Authority leaders from the UN, halts Gaza refugee visas, and Israel’s Security Cabinet debates annexation of Judea and Samaria, aligning American and Israeli strategies decisively.
President Donald Trump’s ambitious “Make Gaza GREAT” Trustee Program—a sweeping plan to rebuild Gaza as a tourist and high-tech Riviera—has ignited debate across the Middle East. At the same time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s refusal to allow Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders entry into the United States for the United Nations General Assembly underscores a decisive new approach in Washington: no to Palestinian statehood games, yes to practical, enforceable solutions. Meanwhile in Jerusalem, the Israeli Security Cabinet is debating annexation of Judea and Samaria (commonly referred to as the West Bank), a move that could align U.S. and Israeli strategies on the future of the territories.
Trump’s “Make Gaza GREAT” Riviera Plan
At the heart of Trump’s initiative is the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration, and Transformation (GREAT) Trust. The program envisions U.S.-supervised redevelopment of Gaza into a Mediterranean jewel: luxury hotels, EV factories, smart-city infrastructure, and high-end resorts along Gaza’s coastline. Trump himself declared the enclave could become the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The details are striking. A 38-page draft plan, reviewed by The Washington Post, outlines that displaced Gazans would receive $5,000 cash payouts, four years of rent subsidies, and one year of food provisions. To prevent permanent dislocation, landowners would be issued digital redevelopment tokens, exchangeable for future housing or equity in reconstruction projects.
Funding would come not from U.S. taxpayers but from private-public mega-projects, overseen by a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation under American and Israeli supervision. Private contractors would secure the enclave during transition, with local security forces gradually phased in. The explicit goal: permanent removal of Hamas while preventing a return to chaos.
Critics—including U.N. officials and Palestinian activists—decry the plan as “forced displacement.” They point to the famine now threatening more than 514,000 Gazans as evidence of humanitarian collapse. Yet Trump’s supporters argue the opposite: for the first time in decades, a practical blueprint exists to move beyond endless war toward prosperity, provided the process remains voluntary and internationally monitored.
Rubio Blocks PA Leadership from the UN
As Trump pushes vision, Rubio delivers enforcement. In August, the State Department revoked visas for PA President Mahmoud Abbas and more than 80 senior PA/PLO officials ahead of the U.N. General Assembly. The decision bars the Palestinian leadership from staging its usual diplomatic theatrics on American soil.
Rubio cited U.S. law and national security grounds, stressing that the PA cannot demand recognition at the UN while still glorifying terrorism and paying stipends to convicted killers. “Privileges in the United States are not entitlements for those who undermine peace,” the State Department noted.
Waivers were granted only to a handful of Palestinian mission staff, as required by U.S. host-country agreements with the UN. Still, the sweeping ban represents the most significant restriction on PA access to Washington since the 1980s.
Refugee Visas Suspended
At the same time, the administration suspended humanitarian visas for Gazans, including medical cases, after activists revealed potential vetting gaps. Conservative commentator Laura Loomer posted footage of wounded children arriving in U.S. hospitals, warning of possible security risks. Rubio responded by halting the program pending review, emphasizing that Hamas and its affiliates often exploit humanitarian corridors.
Democrats in Congress pushed back, insisting that Israeli authorities already vet each case. But Rubio held the line, declaring that until Congress is satisfied no infiltration risks exist, humanitarian visas would remain frozen. The episode highlighted the sharp divide in U.S. politics: one side prioritizing strict security, the other emphasizing symbolic compassion without hard guarantees.
The Israeli Cabinet Debates Annexation
While Washington resets the diplomatic table, Israel’s own government is moving toward decisive action. The Security Cabinet has begun deliberations on applying sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria. Long resisted by international bodies, annexation is now back on the agenda as officials argue that Palestinian intransigence and U.S. backing leave little reason for delay.
Supporters inside the Cabinet note that recognition of Palestinian statehood by several European parliaments, combined with the PA’s weakened legitimacy, underscores the urgency of setting Israel’s permanent borders. They argue that extending sovereignty to the major settlement blocs—and potentially the Jordan Valley—will lock in Israel’s security depth while aligning with Trump’s principle of rejecting Palestinian veto power.
Critics, including some military officials, caution that annexation could strain ties with Jordan and complicate coordination with Washington. But the prevailing sense is that momentum favors bold moves, particularly with the United States demonstrating unprecedented solidarity.
Why This Matters for Israel
From Jerusalem’s perspective, the combination of Trump’s “Make Gaza GREAT” Riviera plan, Rubio’s diplomatic restrictions, and the Cabinet’s annexation debates represents a strategic alignment unseen in decades. Israel is no longer asked to sacrifice its security for a “peace process” that delivers nothing. Instead, it is supported in both defending its borders and envisioning a transformed Gaza without Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasized that any Gaza plan must eliminate Hamas, guarantee Israeli security, and open the enclave to sustainable development. The GREAT Trust aligns with these priorities—especially by bypassing both Hamas and the PA.
Critics vs. Realists
Predictably, Palestinian officials blasted both Trump and Rubio. Abbas’s spokesman called the visa ban “collective punishment.” Human rights organizations described the GREAT Trust as a “second Nakba.” Yet such rhetoric ignores decades of Palestinian leadership failure. Since Oslo, billions in aid have vanished into corruption, while Hamas converted concrete meant for schools into tunnels of terror.
As Trump put it during his original 2024 campaign rallies: “We can make Gaza into a place of hope, not hate. A Riviera, not a rocket factory.” That vision may strike critics as outlandish—but it at least dares to imagine something better than another generation condemned to despair.
Strategic Implications
- End of Free Rides for the PA
Denying Abbas and his entourage entry to the United States sends a blunt message: diplomatic privileges are conditional on behavior. - Gaza Without Hamas
By proposing U.S. trusteeship, Trump acknowledges that Israel alone should not be saddled with rebuilding an enemy enclave. Shared oversight protects Israeli interests while attracting global investment. - Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria
With the Cabinet openly debating annexation, Israel signals that Judea and Samaria are not bargaining chips but part of its historic homeland.
A Moment of Decision
The contrast could not be sharper: on one side, an American plan to rebuild Gaza into a Mediterranean Riviera; on the other, Palestinian leaders barred from the UN for clinging to failed strategies. For Israel and its allies, the opportunity is historic. For Palestinians, the choice is stark—cling to rejectionism, or embrace prosperity under trusteeship.
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