US President Donald Trump will preside over a high-level White House meeting on Wednesday to discuss post-war plans for Gaza, his envoy Steve Witkoff disclosed on Tuesday.
Speaking in a Fox News interview, Witkoff said the meeting would focus on a “very comprehensive plan” for the future of the Palestinian territory once the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas comes to an end. He did not provide specifics but emphasized that the plan would be unveiled “the next day.”
Asked whether the US administration had a “day after” strategy for Gaza, Witkoff confirmed that preparations were underway.
The development follows Trump’s controversial remarks earlier this year, when he suggested that the United States should assume control of Gaza, evacuate its two million residents, and redevelop the enclave into a luxury coastal destination. He described his vision as transforming Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” with the US overseeing the removal of rubble and unexploded ordnance before rebuilding.
The idea drew sharp criticism from several Arab and European nations, though it was praised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called it “bold and visionary.”
Witkoff declined to outline whether the forthcoming plan would align with Trump’s earlier proposals but stressed that it would be seen as “robust” and “well-meaning.”
The war in Gaza began after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel in October 2023, killing 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures compiled by AFP. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has since devastated the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 62,819 Palestinians dead—most of them civilians—according to the territory’s health ministry figures, which the United Nations deems credible.
Trump’s planned meeting is expected to draw global attention, as Washington seeks to position itself at the center of post-conflict reconstruction and political discussions surrounding Gaza’s future.
