US pushes for Gaza rebuild with summit of key Middle Eastern developers, planners

Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Middle East, announced that a summit with leading real estate developers and planners from the region would soon be convened to discuss plans for Gaza's reconstruction.

Witkoff said the event would likely feature major Arab developers and master planners, adding that the ideas presented at the summit would surprise many, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

“We’re going to conduct a summit pretty soon with probably the biggest developers in the Middle East, many of the Arab developers — lots of master planners,” Witkoff said during an event in Washington on Tuesday evening. “I think when people see some of the ideas that come from this, they’re going to be amazed.”

The summit is part of the broader push to find a lasting solution to the Gaza conflict, a key issue in the Middle East for decades. Witkoff emphasized that the region’s countries had expressed interest in helping to provide a permanent resolution for the area’s inhabitants.

The comments came after Israel sought to extend a ceasefire with Hamas, the militant group that has controlled Gaza for almost 20 years, beyond its scheduled end this weekend. Israel’s aim is to secure the release of as many hostages as possible, though it is also preparing for a potential return to military conflict if necessary.

Trump’s controversial proposal to transform Gaza into a "Riviera" of the Middle East has sparked significant backlash, with critics accusing the plan of attempting to displace Palestinians, likening it to ethnic cleansing, and violating international law. However, Witkoff clarified that the plan was not an eviction of Palestinians but rather a long-term redevelopment initiative, acknowledging that it could take up to 15 years to rebuild Gaza, a region that he described as a “giant slum” following over a year of conflict.

“We’re not talking about an eviction plan for Gazans,” Witkoff said during the event. “It’s impractical for Palestinians to stay in Gaza while it’s being rebuilt, and a long-term redevelopment plan is required.”

He further revealed that several countries had extended offers of assistance from a humanitarian standpoint, expressing a desire to be involved in finding a permanent solution for Gaza’s residents.

By Aghakazim Guliyev