U.S. President Donald Trump initially rejected the plan, along with Israel, and has instead suggested that the Gaza Strip be turned into a “Middle East Riviera.” The Trump idea was quickly rebuked for its proposal to resettle Palestinians outside the territory.
Trump’s plan would take 10 to 15 years and make Gaza uninhabitable in the interim.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, walked back Trump’s condemnation of the Arab-backed plan on Thursday, telling reporters that “there are a lot of compelling features to it. We need more discussion about it, but it’s a good faith first step from the Egyptians.”