Davos | 22 January 2026

Former US President Donald Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner unveiled an ambitious and controversial vision for Gaza at the World Economic Forum in Davos, linking peace efforts in the region with large-scale redevelopment plans. Trump suggested his push for peace between Israel and Hamas “all began with the location”, framing the conflict-hit territory through a real estate lens. The proposal was introduced alongside the launch of Trump’s new ‘Board of Peace’ charter.

At least 19 countries co-signed the charter during the Davos meeting, where Gaza was presented as the board’s first focus, with other global conflicts to follow later. Kushner, who has earlier played a key role in Middle East negotiations, presented a detailed slide deck outlining redevelopment plans for Gaza, divided into zones. Stressing commitment to the idea, he said, “We do not have a plan B,” adding that people in the Middle East are capable of building cities in just two or three years.

Trump, during his closing remarks, described Gaza as “this beautiful piece of property” and reiterated that geography itself sparked his interest in brokering peace. Even during ongoing Israeli military action in Gaza, which has reportedly killed around 70,000 people, Trump had earlier said he saw the region as a potential site for a “resort-like city” along the Mediterranean coast. These remarks have drawn sharp criticism from observers who see them as insensitive to the humanitarian crisis.

The list of countries backing the peace board includes Pakistan and several nations from the Middle East, Central Asia, and South America, though major European allies of the US were largely absent. Representatives from Bahrain, Morocco, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan joined Trump on stage, along with Argentine President Javier Milei and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. India’s position on signing the charter remains unclear, according to reports.

While the board was initially proposed to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, a draft charter suggested a broader role to “secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict”. This has raised concerns among US allies, who fear it could rival or weaken the United Nations. Despite these worries, the Trump administration has maintained that the board is meant to complement, not replace, the UN.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the initiative, calling it “a group of leaders that is about action”. He said Trump “is not limited by some of the things that have happened in the past, and he's willing to talk to or engage with anyone in the interest of peace”. Rubio added that the board’s priority is “making sure that this peace deal in Gaza becomes enduring”, after which it could look at other regions.

On the ground in Gaza, Ali Shaath, head of the new technocratic government proposed under Trump’s plan, announced via video message at the forum that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt would open in both directions next week. Israel had earlier said it would open the crossing in December, but the move had not yet been implemented, making this announcement a key development amid ongoing uncertainty.

Trump and Kushner Unveil Gaza Vision at Davos, Say There Is ‘No Plan B’

Former US President Donald Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner presented a bold plan for Gaza at the World Economic Forum in Davos, linking peace efforts with redevelopment ideas. Trump said his interest in resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict “all began with the location”, placing Gaza at the center of his proposed peace initiative through a newly launched ‘Board of Peace’ charter.

During the event, Kushner shared a presentation showing zone-wise development plans for Gaza. Making their stand clear, he said, “We do not have a plan B,” and added that cities in the Middle East can be built in two or three years. Trump later described Gaza as “this beautiful piece of property”, repeating that geography played a key role in shaping his peace push.

So far, at least 19 countries have signed Trump’s charter, including Pakistan and several nations from the Middle East, South America, and Central Asia, while many European allies stayed away. Leaders like Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban joined Trump on stage, along with representatives from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, and others.

The board was first proposed to guide Gaza’s reconstruction, but its wider role to “secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict” has raised concerns among critics. Still, US officials defended the idea, stressing that the focus remains on making peace in Gaza lasting, even as details on future members and plans continue to emerge.