President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video on his Truth Social account late Tuesday, promoting a vision of Gaza transformed into a luxury resort destination. The video, which depicts Gaza as a high-end Gulf-style development, comes amid growing criticism of Trump's proposal to take control of the enclave and expel its Palestinian population.
The 33-second clip opens with barefoot Palestinian children walking through the rubble of war-torn Gaza before transitioning to a futuristic city skyline along the Mediterranean coast. "Donald's coming to set you free," a voice sings over an electronic beat. The video then showcases a surreal sequence of scenes, including a golden statue of Trump, billionaire Elon Musk eating hummus, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lounging shirtless on a beach.
Trump has proposed turning Gaza into a U.S.-controlled territory and relocating its 2.1 million Palestinian residents to other countries. The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority has rejected the idea, calling it a "serious violation of international law." Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shaheen said, "We have tried displacement before, and it will not happen again," referencing the mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
This was just posted on President Trump’s Truth Social account.
[image or embed] — Yashar Ali (@yasharali.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 12:02 AM
The AI-generated video, which ends with Trump and Netanyahu sipping drinks by the beach, has drawn widespread criticism. Wassel Abu Yousuf, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee, told CNN the video was "a clowning gimmick and nothing more than that." He added, "There will not be resorts or Middle East Riviera or anything else. What Trump wants to do should be done somewhere else, but not on the backs of the Palestinian people."
A CNN poll conducted in mid-February found that the proposal to take control of Gaza without allowing displaced Palestinians the right to return was deeply unpopular. Only 13% of respondents viewed it favorably, while 58% called it "a bad thing."
Trump has not committed to enforcing his plan but has defended it despite opposition from Arab leaders. In an interview with Fox News on Friday, he said, "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."
Arab leaders have been working on an alternative plan for Gaza's reconstruction, with discussions held in Riyadh and a follow-up meeting set for March 4 in Cairo. A senior United Arab Emirates official told CNN on Wednesday that any postwar reconstruction must include a clear path to Palestinian statehood. "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," UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said.
The UAE has held preliminary discussions about participating in Gaza's rebuilding efforts but has made clear that its conditions-such as a reformed Palestinian Authority and an Israeli commitment to Palestinian statehood-must be met before moving forward. Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected a two-state solution and has expressed support for Trump's vision of U.S. control over Gaza.
Egypt, which Trump suggested should take in Palestinian refugees, has been leading efforts to formulate an alternative reconstruction plan. Egyptian Prime Minister Hassan El Khatib has estimated the rebuilding effort would take three years and cost $20 billion. Asked whether Egypt felt pressured by the U.S. to accept Trump's plan, Egyptian Minister of Investment Hassan El Khatib told CNN, "The right for the Palestinians to live on their own land is a principle... No, we're not going to take pressure on this."
