A redevelopment plan for the Gaza Strip calls for spending tens of billions of dollars to build permanent housing, schools, religious centers and medical facilities.
Jared Kushner, PresidentDonald Trump's son-in-law, unveiled the plan at a Jan. 22 meeting of the Board of Peace, an international organization Trumpestablished this month.
"It could be a hope," Kushner said of Gaza. "It could be a destination. (It could) have a lot of industry and really be a place that the people there can thrive, have great employment."
See Donald Trump's development plan for the war-torn Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip is 141 square miles and is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. The population is primarily Palestinian refugees. Gazans have long struggled under leadership by Hamas, which took power in 2006 and is designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department, and has been in an ongoing conflict with Israel.
By 2024, an economic collapse prompted by the Israel-Hamas war pushed all 2.3 million residents into poverty, according to theUnited Nations. A separateUN reportfound that 91% of Gaza's population were experiencing "crisis-level food insecurity" in 2024.
Kushner's presentation showed a version of the Gaza Strip with master plans for Gaza City in the north and Rafah in the south. The images included skyscrapers and plans for tourist attractions along the Mediterranean coast.
"We want to use free market economy principles," Kushner said. "A lot of what President Trump spoke about that he's doing in America – we want to bring the same kind of mindset, the same approach to a place like Gaza to give these people the ability to thrive."
Kushner said he thinks they can increase employment in the Gaza Strip to 100%. The unemployment rate in the region hit 80% in 2024, according to theInternational Labour Organization. The United States had a 4.4% unemployment rate in December 2025.
Kushner said private investment won't come until there is security in the region. He praised the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which is governing the region under a negotiated peace plan and supervised by the Board of Peace.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Jared Kushner unveils Gaza development plan with skyscrapers, schools
