Washington, United States. Israeli-Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay presented a detailed Gaza reconstruction plan to members of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace at the group’s first meeting on Thursday. Gabay said the plan depended on the full disarmament of Hamas.
Reconstruction plan details
Gabay said Gaza’s 26-mile coastline could be developed as a “new Mediterranean Riviera” with 200 hotels and potential islands, according to a quote published by The Times of Israel. He said the value would go to Gazans through a Gaza sovereign fund.
Gabay told representatives in Washington that funding for the project had been secured and would be invested in what he described as a “free economy.” He said the proposal begins with the removal of more than 70 million tonnes of debris and unexploded ordnance.
He outlined what he called a “detailed masterplan” covering housing, infrastructure, agriculture, hospitals, schools, rail transport, leisure facilities, data centres and an airport. He said the local population would build their own cities, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and reviving the economy.
Gabay’s role on the Gaza Executive Board
The White House announced in January that Gabay would serve on the Gaza Executive Board (GEB) of the Board of Peace.
The GEB comprises 11 international members, including US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and former British prime minister Tony Blair.
According to Jewish News Syndicate, Kushner personally invited Gabay to join the board, and the agency reported that Gabay had been working behind the scenes to develop proposals for Gaza using his international business connections.
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