US President Donald Trump sparked international condemnation on February 9, 2025, when he described Gaza as a “demolition site” that needs to be “leveled out” and developed into a luxury resort. During an impromptu speech on Air Force One, en route to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Trump claimed the US would take control of the Gaza Strip, stating, “We will do a job with it too.”
The comments came as a shock to Palestinians and human rights advocates, who pointed out that the Gaza Strip requires significant investment in reconstruction, estimated at over $53 billion. The UN has also allocated billions of dollars for overseas development aid, but it is unclear if Trump’s administration would honor these commitments.
Critics argue that Trump’s vision for Gaza aligns with Israel’s long-held goal to annex the territory and exploit its resources. This echoes the Zionist project, which envisions an Eretz Israel stretching from Egypt to Iran, encompassing much of the West Bank, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and western Iraq.
Trump’s remarks have been likened to a “gentrification” of Gaza, where native Palestinians are displaced in favor of Israeli settlers and tourists. His administration has already rolled out similar policies across the US, including evictions and gentrification, which human rights groups have widely condemned.
The international community has responded with outrage, as UN special rapporteurs signed a letter condemning Trump’s comments as a war crime. Meanwhile, Palestinians are struggling to cope with the aftermath of Israel’s 2014 genocide, which destroyed much of Gaza’s water and sewage infrastructure.
As the debate around Gaza unfolds, one thing is clear: the Palestinians’ voices are being silenced in favor of Trump’s vision for the territory – a luxury resort that prioritizes the interests of US tourists and Israeli settlers over those of native Palestinians.
Source: https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/02/18/trump-international-hotel-and-tower-gaza