A massive reconstruction plan is being pushed forward by the US government in collaboration with Israel, which will transform the Gaza Strip into a viceroyalty-style entity. The "Project Sunrise" plan aims to rebuild Rafah and other areas of Gaza behind the Israeli military's control line, with no intention of allowing Palestinians to live or govern themselves.
The plan is based on a complete uprooting of Gaza over 10 years, where every major city in the Strip will be rebuilt from scratch. The project includes creating a "digitally-driven smart city" with AI-optimized grids, high-speed rail, and luxury beachside resorts. However, this vision for a utopian future is built on top of collective punishment and ethnic cleansing.
Rafah, which has been almost entirely destroyed, will be rebuilt as "New Rafah," with the goal of housing over 500,000 people, including over 200 schools and universities. The city's former airport will be demolished, and a new one will be built on land that was previously residential. Gaza's seafront will be redeveloped into a "glitzy riviera" worth $55 billion.
Despite promises of humanitarian aid, the US government is pushing its own distinct plan, which involves Israel taking control of 75 percent of Gaza, up from 53 percent initially controlled at the start of the ceasefire. The Israeli military has continued moving the Yellow Line demarcation blocks around Gaza further and further inward, seizing more territory and expelling Palestinians living in it.
As Trump's administration pushes forward with its plans, Netanyahu is pushing for an expanded collaborationist network that will lead to further Palestinian displacement and settlement expansion in Gaza. Despite attempts by some American media outlets to portray the Popular Forces' previous leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, as a liberal trailblazer, his death has been met with celebrations among Palestinians.
The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world. The US government's actions in Gaza are undeniably authoritarian, using the government's full powers to dismantle the free press and create a post-truth America. In this most perilous moment for democracy, The Intercept is fighting back, but needs help expanding its reporting capacity to effectively cover these issues.
The stage is being set for Project Sunrise to act as a carrot, with Israel's military as the ever-present stick. The US government is essentially saying that Gaza will be rebuilt in their image, without any consideration for Palestinian rights or interests. This project is not about humanitarian aid, but rather about expanding Israel's control over the region and pushing its agenda of dispossession and settler expansion.
The reconstruction plan's impact on Gaza's residents is already being felt. The city of Khan Younis has been placed under an IDF buffer zone, where Palestinians are forced to live in makeshift tents with limited access to basic services. The Palestinian children queue for water for hours, trying to meet their daily needs.
The US government's actions in Gaza are a stark reminder that democracy is not just about elections and governance, but also about respect for human rights, dignity, and the rule of law. As The Intercept fights back against this authoritarian onslaught, it needs the support of readers like you to continue its critical reporting on these issues.
The plan is based on a complete uprooting of Gaza over 10 years, where every major city in the Strip will be rebuilt from scratch. The project includes creating a "digitally-driven smart city" with AI-optimized grids, high-speed rail, and luxury beachside resorts. However, this vision for a utopian future is built on top of collective punishment and ethnic cleansing.
Rafah, which has been almost entirely destroyed, will be rebuilt as "New Rafah," with the goal of housing over 500,000 people, including over 200 schools and universities. The city's former airport will be demolished, and a new one will be built on land that was previously residential. Gaza's seafront will be redeveloped into a "glitzy riviera" worth $55 billion.
Despite promises of humanitarian aid, the US government is pushing its own distinct plan, which involves Israel taking control of 75 percent of Gaza, up from 53 percent initially controlled at the start of the ceasefire. The Israeli military has continued moving the Yellow Line demarcation blocks around Gaza further and further inward, seizing more territory and expelling Palestinians living in it.
As Trump's administration pushes forward with its plans, Netanyahu is pushing for an expanded collaborationist network that will lead to further Palestinian displacement and settlement expansion in Gaza. Despite attempts by some American media outlets to portray the Popular Forces' previous leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, as a liberal trailblazer, his death has been met with celebrations among Palestinians.
The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world. The US government's actions in Gaza are undeniably authoritarian, using the government's full powers to dismantle the free press and create a post-truth America. In this most perilous moment for democracy, The Intercept is fighting back, but needs help expanding its reporting capacity to effectively cover these issues.
The stage is being set for Project Sunrise to act as a carrot, with Israel's military as the ever-present stick. The US government is essentially saying that Gaza will be rebuilt in their image, without any consideration for Palestinian rights or interests. This project is not about humanitarian aid, but rather about expanding Israel's control over the region and pushing its agenda of dispossession and settler expansion.
The reconstruction plan's impact on Gaza's residents is already being felt. The city of Khan Younis has been placed under an IDF buffer zone, where Palestinians are forced to live in makeshift tents with limited access to basic services. The Palestinian children queue for water for hours, trying to meet their daily needs.
The US government's actions in Gaza are a stark reminder that democracy is not just about elections and governance, but also about respect for human rights, dignity, and the rule of law. As The Intercept fights back against this authoritarian onslaught, it needs the support of readers like you to continue its critical reporting on these issues.
gotta say, the whole thing feels so messed up... i mean, rebuilding a city with no intention of letting ppl govern themselves is just weird 
and what's with the "smart city" vibe? sounds like some kinda dystopian nightmare 
. and 500k people living in new rafah? that's crazy 
. don't get me wrong, i'm all for rebuilding and stuff, but gotta prioritize ppl's rights over some fancy AI-optimized grid 
. and can we talk about the whole "glitzy riviera" thing? like, who cares about a beachside resort when ppl are still struggling to access basic services 
. need to take a step back and think about what really matters here 
. they're basically trying to create a mini-israel in there with luxury resorts and smart city tech, but at what cost? the palestinians are already feeling the heat with limited access to basic services and being forced to live in makeshift tents under israeli control... it's like they're treating gaza like a concentration camp 
. and let's not forget about the israeli military taking control of more territory, it's like they're playing a game of territorial tug-of-war 
. anyone who thinks this plan is about humanitarian aid needs to take a hard look at their own biases 
This whole "Project Sunrise" thing sounds like a real-life game of Hunger Games, where the Palestinians are the main course and we're all supposed to be entertained by their suffering. 
And let's not forget about the $55 billion investment in Gaza's seafront... that's just obscene! 
The US government is basically saying "we'll rebuild your city, but you have to do what we say" 
Can't we just talk about a peaceful resolution to this conflict instead of trying to turn Gaza into some kind of dystopian nightmare? 
Gaza Strip is being pushed into darkness by US-Israel plan 
️
Palestinians deserve respect, not dispossession 
. Why can't world leaders learn from history? 
. 500,000 people are supposed to live in this "New Rafah" city? Are they gonna get a say in how it's run? I highly doubt it 
. We need to keep an eye on this and make sure our voices are heard 
oh man I'm literally shaking with rage thinking about what's gonna happen in Gaza if this project goes through 
we need more voices like The Intercept speaking out against this kind of oppression 
. The US government is basically pushing a viceroyalty-style system, which is just so... colonial 
. Let's get angry, folks! 
. I mean, think about it, the US is essentially giving Israel a blank check to do whatever they want with Gaza and its people 
. And what's the result? Palestinians living under collective punishment and ethnic cleansing 
.
. No consideration for Palestinian rights or interests whatsoever 
. It's like they're saying, 'We'll give you some basic services and infrastructure, but you have to live under our control' 
. The Intercept is right on the money with their criticism of this authoritarian plan 
.
.
, but no freedom or control for Palestinians 
. This plan feels like a recipe for disaster - 500,000 people packed into one city with limited resources and services 
. The fact that Palestinians are being forced to live in makeshift tents under military control is already a nightmare scenario 
.
It's just so infuriating... and don't even get me started on the luxury beachside resorts 
.
. They're just trying to help Gaza become a more... modern and efficient place, with all those fancy smart city features. And who needs Palestinian self-governance when you've got AI-optimized grids and luxury beachside resorts? Sounds like a dream come true for the 500k+ people moving into New Rafah! 
The Yellow Line demarcation blocks being moved in doesn't seem that bad, it's just for the sake of security and order. And let's be real, Palestinians have had their chance to govern themselves - remember when Yasser Abu Shabab was leading the Popular Forces? 
meanwhile the US gov is all about lining Israel's pockets with cash 
. The US government is basically saying "hey, we'll give you some aid if you just let us do our thing" which is just code for "we're gonna take your land and make it all about us".