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| The US president has shared an AI-generated clip on his own social media platform depicting a vision for the future of Gaza. |
US President Donald Trump recently shared a video on his Truth Social account that appears to have been generated using AI, showcasing his vision for transforming Gaza into a lavish resort akin to those in the Gulf. The video, posted late Tuesday, features extravagant imagery, including a golden statue of Trump, Elon Musk eating hummus, and American and Israeli leaders relaxing shirtless on a beach.
"No more tunnels, no more fear," a song plays over an upbeat dance track. "Trump Gaza is finally here!"
Trump has proposed displacing 2.1 million Palestinians and converting Gaza into a U.S.-controlled "Riviera." The Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the West Bank, strongly opposes this idea, calling it a blatant breach of international law. PA Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shaheen condemned the proposal, stating: "We have tried displacement before, and it will not happen again," referencing the mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.
The video begins with barefoot Palestinian children navigating the rubble of Gaza, as the screen displays the question: "What’s next?" They then walk toward a futuristic skyline of towering buildings along Gaza’s coastline.
"Donald’s coming to set you free," the song continues. "Trump Gaza shining bright. Golden future, a brand-new light. Feast and dance. The deed is done."
The video presents a surreal mix of scenes, including bikini-clad and bearded belly dancers, a child holding a Trump-shaped golden balloon, and Elon Musk dancing under a cascade of U.S. dollars on a beach.
As the video concludes, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are seen sipping drinks by the shore.
In response, Gaza’s Hamas-run Government Media Office strongly condemned the video, labeling it "disgraceful."
"This video and its degrading content reflect the deeply rooted racist colonial mindset that seeks to distort reality and justify the occupation’s crimes," said Ismail Al-Thawabtah, the office’s director-general. "By portraying Gaza as if it were a land without a people, this desperate attempt aims to legitimize the ongoing ethnic cleansing carried out by the Israeli occupation with clear American support."
Whether Trump will proceed with his proposed expulsion plan remains uncertain. After receiving criticism from Egyptian and Jordanian leaders, he told Fox News on Friday: "The way to do it is my plan. I think that’s the plan that really works. But I’m not forcing it. I’m just going to sit back and recommend it."
Reacting to the video on Wednesday, Wassel Abu Yousuf, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, dismissed it as "a clowning gimmick and nothing more than that."
"There will not be resorts or Middle East riviera or anything else," he stated. "What Trump wants to do should be done somewhere else, but not on the backs of the Palestinian people. This is the land of our ancestors and parents, and a lot of blood has been shed to defend it."
Arab Leaders' Response
On Friday, Arab leaders gathered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for initial discussions on countering Trump’s plan for Gaza. They are scheduled to meet again in Cairo on March 4 to refine their strategy before presenting it to Trump at a later date.
A senior official from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stressed the need for a "bold" initiative to rebuild Gaza but insisted that any plan must include a clear pathway to Palestinian statehood.
The UAE has engaged in preliminary talks about participating in postwar reconstruction but has made it clear that its conditions, such as reforming the Palestinian Authority and securing an Israeli commitment to Palestinian sovereignty, have yet to be met.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has firmly rejected Palestinian statehood and instead backed Trump’s proposal for U.S. ownership of Gaza.
"The conclusion is we need a bold plan of reconstruction but that plan of reconstruction must ensure that we don’t go back to a situation of conflict and to do that we have to have a clear path where the Palestinians actually have a state," UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash told at an investment conference in Abu Dhabi.
Egypt, one of the nations Trump suggested as a resettlement location for Gazans, has taken the lead in crafting an alternative vision for Gaza. Egyptian Prime Minister Hassan El Khatib has stated that implementing such a plan would take three years and require an estimated $20 billion.
A significant recipient of U.S. aid, feels pressured to accept Trump’s plan, El Khatib firmly responded: "The right for the Palestinians to live on their own land is a principle… No we’re not going to take pressure on this."
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