Gaza: Trump’s Plan for a ‘Middle East Riviera’ and Netanyahu’s Denial of a Rift

In an effort to dispel rumors about his relationship with Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the issue in a speech on Wednesday (May 21, 2025), where he fully endorsed Trump’s plan to entirely displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. However, Trump’s plan envisions transforming the Gaza Strip into a ‘Middle East Riviera,’ marking the first time Netanyahu has referenced this initiative. Months earlier, in February, Netanyahu released a deepfake video using AI to showcase his vision for Gaza. In the video, he was seen drinking cocktails in a magi robe alongside Elon Musk, who was enjoying local delicacies and handing out money, while massive golden statues of himself stood in the background. This video was published on his Truth Social account. Despite these plans, tensions seemed to rise as Trump visited the Middle East without stopping in Israel, leading to talk of ‘clouds’ in the Trump-Netanyahu relationship. Trump toured Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, sealing significant business deals. Analysts noted that Israel, the closest U.S. ally in the region, was excluded from the tour. Prior to the trip, Trump decided to halt bombings against the Houthis in Yemen, though Iran-backed rebels continued launching missiles against Israel and negotiations with Tehran regarding Iran’s nuclear program were initiated. In a press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu, who had not previously commented on this scenario, stated that he spoke with Trump about ten days ago, during which the U.S. president reportedly said, ‘Bibi, I want you to know I am fully committed to you and fully committed to the state of Israel.’ Amid growing international pressure on Israel, Trump urged for an immediate end to military operations in Gaza and highlighted the plight of civilians there, where Israel’s blockade of international humanitarian aid for 11 weeks exacerbated the dire situation in the war-torn area. Netanyahu also mentioned a recent phone call with U.S. Vice President Jay Dee Vance, who allegedly told him, ‘Don’t pay attention to all these fake news stories about a rift between us.’