Acting ambassador: Israel’s vision aligns with Trump’s “Riviera” plan for Gaza

Israeli Ambassador to Russia, Alexander Ben Zvi, has commented on US President Donald Trump's idea to transform the Gaza Strip into a "Middle Eastern Riviera", noting that while the concept is currently just a dream, it aligns with Israel’s vision for the region.

"Of course, in this case, it’s a dream. But every real project begins with a dream," Ben Zvi stated, in response to inquiries about Trump’s proposal, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

The diplomat emphasised that there is a vision of what this transformation could look like, adding, "This is his plan, and he will make every effort to implement it."

However, Ben Zvi reiterated that at this stage, the concept of a "Riviera" remains a dream. Ben Zvi also acknowledged that Trump’s vision coincides with Israel’s long-held belief that Gaza could potentially develop into a prosperous region. 

"We discussed, even during previous conflicts, that Gaza could be transformed into something like Singapore," he recalled. "This idea was voiced."

The diplomat then raised the issue of when these plans could realistically become a reality, stating that they would materialise when the region understands that "Israel cannot be destroyed." 

Ben Zvi also pointed out that Hamas, the governing entity in Gaza, has significant financial resources. "Hamas has vast resources; it's not a poor organisation. Their leaders, sitting in Qatar, have billions of dollars. Where did these billions suddenly come from?" he asked.

He further suggested that if the international aid received by Hamas were instead allocated toward infrastructure development, such as housing, hospitals, schools, and the economy, Gaza could truly evolve into a thriving region.

By Naila Huseynova