F
inance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a Israeli official, called Gaza a “real‑estate bonanza” and said he is negotiating a split with the U.S., sparking backlash, BBC reports. He said the next step after demolition is rebuilding, citing Israel’s campaign. The remarks echo former President Donald Trump’s 2025 plan for U.S. trusteeship to turn Gaza into a tourism and high‑tech hub, a proposal rejected by Palestinians, Arab states and world. Smotrich said Israel could profit from land development, noting the war’s cost and revenue sharing. The UN estimates 92 % of homes and 91 % of schools damaged, $53 billion needed for ten‑year reconstruction. Smotrich, sanctioned by the U.K. for incitement, directs West Bank planning and backs settlement expansion. BBC