On September 17, a senior Israeli far-right official stated that the Gaza Strip is a real estate bonanza and that political negotiations are underway with the United States on how to divide the strip after the war.
On the same day, Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich reportedly stated at a real estate conference in Tel Aviv that Israel has already invested heavily in the Gaza war and must consider how to distribute the land proportionally.
Earlier this month, news surfaced that the Trump administration was considering a US-led reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip. The US would control Gaza for at least 10 years and aim to rebuild it into a tourist destination and manufacturing hub. The plan, drafted by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund, has clear political implications.
The plan, drafted by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund, envisions encouraging two million Gazans to “voluntarily” leave Gaza during the reconstruction period. Gazans willing to leave would each receive $5,000, plus four years of housing subsidies and one year of food subsidies.
Another option is to establish temporary housing within a security zone in Gaza to accommodate residents. Residents who own land will receive digital tokens from the Gaza Reconstruction Fund, allowing the fund to redevelop their land. In exchange, residents will receive financial compensation if they relocate to another country or a home in rebuilt Gaza City.
Under the new plan, Israel will maintain security oversight during the first year of reconstruction. Security in Gaza will be handled by third-party personnel and Western private military contractors. During the 10-year reconstruction period, trained local police will gradually take over security responsibilities.
Trump’s plan to take over Gaza has been met with collective opposition from Arab countries. Hamas Political Bureau member Naim strongly condemned the plan, emphasizing that Gaza is not for sale but part of the broader Palestinian homeland.
Israel is currently launching a ground offensive against Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip, and local communications and internet access have been disrupted.
According to the latest data released by the Gaza Health Department, since the outbreak of a new round of large-scale Israeli-Palestinian conflict on October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have resulted in over 65,000 deaths and over 165,000 injuries. The United Nations has officially determined that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
Due to the ongoing Middle East conflicts in which Israel is involved, including in the Gaza Strip, the country faces economic sanctions and political isolation from the international community.
In mid-month, Israel launched military operations against six Arab countries within 72 hours. The Arab-Islamic Emergency Summit condemned Israel and called on Arab and Islamic nations to unite to address common challenges and threats.
On September 17, the European Union announced sanctions against Israel, including the suspension of €6 million in annual funding. Additionally, Smotrich and another far-right minister were added to the EU sanctions list, citing the Israeli government’s current actions in Gaza as violating the human rights and democracy provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
In a rare admission at a Finance Ministry meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently acknowledged that Israel is facing increasing economic isolation and needs to move toward a self-sufficient development model, including through its own weapons production. However, opposition leader Lapid criticized this situation as the product of the Netanyahu government’s own mistakes and failed policies.
