## Trump’s Gaza "Colonial" Plan: Risks & Regional Shifts 📈

A second-phase ceasefire plan for Gaza, characterized as a "colonial framework," is emerging under US President Donald Trump. The strategy shifts from military conflict to a structured administrative takeover, carrying significant implications for Middle East stability and global energy markets. • Governance Structure Proposed administration of Gaza via a 15-member technocrat committee, supervised by a 7-member Board of Peace chaired by Trump. Key figures include Marco Rubio and Jared Kushner. An International Stabilization Force, led by US General Jasper Jeffers, is expected to provide security oversight. • Economic Interests & Funding The reconstruction of Gaza is estimated at US$ 70 Bn. Funding is projected to come from offshore natural gas and oil resources in Palestinian waters—a move tied to the expansion of the Abraham Accords. This shift targets regional integration while bypassing traditional taxation models. • Regional & Sectoral Impact • Energy: Global oil prices have seen volatility, recently dipping by approx. 0.5% to 1% (Brent/WTI) as ceasefire prospects ease the "geopolitical risk premium." • Geopolitics: The plan seeks to subdue Iran to facilitate a "new Riviera" in Gaza and block China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from deepening its Middle Eastern footprint. • Labour & Remittances: For countries like Sri Lanka, stability in the Middle East is critical for the safety and flow of migrant worker remittances, which remain a primary foreign exchange pillar. • Strategic Outlook The plan faces opposition from Hamas factions and Israel's far-right, who favor direct annexation. Critics argue the move mirrors historical colonial zones, potentially replacing the goal of an independent Palestinian state with a US-managed administrative zone.