In January, at the World Economic Forum, Jared Kushner presented a “Master Plan” for the future of Gaza. Kushner’s slideshow featured glossy images of coastal skyscrapers, a new tourism district with 180 towers, an airport, a seaport, and industrial complex zones. A phased reconstruction timeline promised to transform “New Rafah” and “New Gaza” into modern metropolises. The Master Plan was shared as part of the establishment of President Donald Trump’s so-called Board of Peace.
“Tellingly, the Davos slideshow just briefly mentioned basic services like water, electricity, and sewage for Palestinians in war-decimated Gaza,” writes Mohammed R. Mhawish. “Kushner’s presentation mentions Palestinians in the context of ‘demilitarization principles,’ claiming this process will be ‘led by Palestinians, internationally verified.’ The Palestinian public were not involved, not even consulted, in the drafting of these visions. Almost every decision about where they will live, how they will move, and what kind of life they may rebuild was made without them.”
From the perspective of Nour Alsaqqa, a media and communications officer in Gaza, it’s obvious that the Board of Peace’s proposals aren’t meant to restore life in Gaza. Rather, they serve interests that are mostly American, Israeli, and Gulf in character.
Over the past several months, Mhawish spoke with U.S. officials, legal scholars, and political analysts to understand the hierarchy of power within the Board of Peace and how its decisions are being made. Read his full report on what the proposals really mean for the future of Palestine:
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