Sunrise: American reconstruction plan for Gaza.
The Wall Street Journal reported this morning (Saturday) that the United States is moving forward with a plan called “Project Sunrise,” developed by Steve Whitakoff, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, and Jared Kushner, the President’s special advisor and son-in-law.
This plan aims to transform the devastation in Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” featuring advanced technology, smart infrastructure, modern transportation, and real estate. The estimated cost for implementing this plan is $112.1 billion over ten years.
According to the report, a significant portion of the funding will come from Gulf and regional countries alongside the United States. Washington has pledged to be the “anchor” during this period, covering nearly $60 billion in grants and debt guarantees. It is also anticipated that Gaza will contribute to financing some projects in the following years and eventually repay its debts. However, the plan lacks details about the companies involved in the reconstruction and the fate of the two million Palestinians during the project’s implementation.
The proposal was previously presented to Gulf states, Egypt, and Turkey, which played roles in advancing former President Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war. It was revisited after Whitakoff and Kushner met with representatives from Cairo, Ankara, and Doha in Miami to discuss developments in Gaza and negotiations for an international force to deploy in the Gaza Strip.
The Wall Street Journal stated that this plan was developed over the past 45 days in consultation with Israeli officials, private sector representatives, and contractors. However, American sources familiar with the project express serious doubts about its feasibility, noting that its implementation is contingent upon the demilitarization of Gaza—a condition experts consider very difficult and unrealistic to achieve.
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, who remarked, “No one in Israel thinks this plan will go beyond the current situation.” Conversely, some sources in the Trump administration argue that if security conditions allow, the project could commence within two months.
However, many countries are reluctant to finance the reconstruction effort due to the Israeli regime’s violations of the ceasefire agreement and the risk of renewed conflict.
Despite extensive publicity, the “Sunrise” project resembles a political and propaganda proposal more than a practical operational plan, given its high costs, unrealistic conditions, and significant uncertainties regarding settlement and financing. Experts emphasize that rebuilding Gaza is impossible without ending the occupation and lifting the blockade. Current reconstruction plans are based on the continuation of Israeli occupation and control over the Palestinian people. Therefore, even if financial resources are secured, reconstructing Gaza under occupation and without a genuine vision for its future will likely result in a failed project from the outset.