President Donald Trump on Sunday doubled down on his plans for the US to redevelop Gaza, saying that he viewed the war-torn enclave as a “big real estate site.”

Far-fetched as Mr. Trump’s vision for Gaza may be — the Arab world has roundly rejected it and any forcible removal of a population violates international law — it abruptly shifted attention away from the future of the cease-fire deal, whose initial, six-week phase is due to end in early March.

Trump’s idea of remaking Gaza as a real estate development is not a complete outlier in the long, troubled history of U.S. intervention in the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump has set his sights on transforming Gaza into a luxury Mediterranean destination. Backed by Israel’s leadership, this plan reimagines Gaza as a real estate jewel, replacing its shattered neighborhoods with high-end developments.