A new U.S. plan emphasizes Saudi-led regional influence and Palestinian relocation, while Israel’s role remains uncertain.
President Donald Trump’s evolving Middle East strategy centers on strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia and restructuring the region’s dynamics. At the heart of this approach is a plan to evacuate at least half of Gaza’s population, funded by Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, to facilitate reconstruction. Gaza residents are already preparing for potential relocations to Algeria and Tunisia, while Egypt and Jordan are under pressure to accept Palestinians.
The proposed overhaul includes modernizing Gaza with new ports, hospitals, schools, and commercial facilities, all managed by a multinational force and Palestinian Authority representatives. Surprisingly, Israel is expected to play only a peripheral role in this reconstruction effort. Trump’s team, led by envoy Steve Witkoff, views Saudi Arabia as the linchpin in this ambitious project.
Key to Trump’s Middle East agenda is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has proposed significant investments in the U.S., with Trump pushing for up to $1 trillion. Saudi normalization with Israel, once a cornerstone of U.S. strategy, has been deprioritized due to concerns over public backlash in the kingdom and the Crown Prince’s safety. Instead, discussions have shifted to economic and security cooperation, sidelining Israel’s involvement in broader regional plans.
Qatar also features prominently in Trump’s strategy. U.S. officials are urging Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to increase American investments, but further normalization with Israel is contingent on contentious demands, including the establishment of a Palestinian state and the evacuation of settlers from the West Bank.
Revisiting the 2002 Saudi Peace Initiative, Trump appears to be exploring avenues for broader Arab-Israeli normalization, albeit with significant caveats. The initiative’s conditions, such as East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital and the return of refugees, remain sticking points that complicate its revival.
Trump’s strategy reflects a shift from Israel-centric policies to broader regional dynamics led by Saudi Arabia, with an eye on countering China’s influence and cementing the U.S.-Saudi partnership. This approach, however, raises questions about its feasibility, given the complexities of Palestinian relocation, regional tensions, and the potential sidelining of Israel in key negotiations.
