Donald Trump’s recent proposal to rebuild Gaza without its Palestinian residents echoes Israel’s "Gaza 2035" plan. Introduced by Netanyahu's government, the plan aims to turn Gaza into a Mediterranean commercial hub, resembling the French Riviera. Despite international opposition, this vision has found support from the new U.S. president, as Palestinians continue to recover from over a year of conflict.

The "Gaza 2035" plan was presented by Israel with the aim of revamping Gaza’s economic landscape and making it a central player in Mediterranean trade. According to reports from the Jerusalem Post, Israel believes that transforming Gaza into an economic powerhouse could under

mine Hamas' power. This idea echoes earlier plans in the Middle East that sought to build prosperity through capitalism, under the belief that economic improvement would help stabilize the region.

Adel Bakawan, director of the European Institute for Studies on the Middle East and North Africa (EISMENA), describes the proposal to improve Gaza's economy and integrate it into regional trade as an "old fantasy." He traces the idea back to 2001, when George Bush linked the region's economic conditions to the rise of terrorism. Bakawan argues that Israel's current strategy of improving Gaza's economic situation to weaken Hamas is unrealistic and "utopian," as similar attempts over the past century have failed.