Smotrich's remarks came during his participation in a real estate conference in Tel Aviv, according to the privately owned Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, which noted that his remarks reflect the prevailing view within the administration of US President Donald Trump, which describes the reconstruction of Gaza as a "profitable real estate investment."
In late August, the Washington Post revealed a plan being circulated within the Trump administration for the reconstruction of Gaza. This plan would place the territory under "American tutelage" for at least 10 years, transforming it into a tourist resort and advanced technology center.
The Israeli minister addressed the issue of "the day after" in the Gaza Strip, saying, "The plan is currently on President Trump's desk," adding that they are "studying how to turn this project into a real estate bonanza."
He added, "I have already begun negotiations with the Americans, and I'm not saying this jokingly, because we have paid a lot of money for this war. We must share the proportions on the ground. We have already completed the demolition phase, which is the first phase of the urban renewal plan. Now we must build."
The Israeli minister's remarks are the first official indication that the Trump plan is under discussion within Israel, despite the government facing mounting international pressure to recognize a Palestinian state and warnings of the political isolation Tel Aviv could sink into due to the Gaza war.
Trump told reporters last February that allowing Palestinians to return to the Strip would be a "huge mistake," describing Gaza as a "huge real estate area" that the United States could own and gradually develop.
"temporary transfer path"
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In a related development, the Israeli occupation army announced on Wednesday the establishment of a "temporary transit route" for Gaza residents to leave the city.
Military spokesman Avichay Adraee posted a statement on the X platform, saying, "In order to facilitate movement south, a temporary route is being opened via Salah al-Din Street," which runs parallel to the coast of the Gaza Strip from north to south. He claimed that movement via it would be available "for 48 hours," from Wednesday noon until Friday noon (09:00 GMT).
Despite international criticism and warnings of disastrous consequences, the Israeli occupation army announced on Tuesday that the operation to occupy Gaza City would take several months.
On August 8, the Israeli government approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City.
For weeks, the Israeli occupation army has been intensifying its bombing of residential towers and buildings in the city, a policy aimed at forcing Palestinians to flee to areas south of the Gaza Strip, and then pushing them to emigrate abroad.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 65,062 Palestinians dead and 165,697 wounded, most of them children and women, and causing a famine that has claimed the lives of 428 Palestinians, including 146 children.
