- The Board of Peace is preparing its first contract for a military base, which is not yet finalized, marking a significant step in its reconstruction plans amid ongoing violence.
- This prospective contract involves facilities to support the international stabilization force (ISF), which will assist in implementing security and governance arrangements.
- The facility will include a “quick extraction route” to evacuate the small force if attacked.
- Morocco has pledged a small contingent for the ISF, but the legal framework for deployment remains unfinalized.
- The proposed military outpost is an early test of whether the Board of Peace's larger security and reconstruction plans can move beyond planning, following a reduction from a territory-wide plan to a small pilot project.
- The award of the contract follows Trump's announcement that Hamas had agreed to disarm, although questions remain about the implementation of this agreement.
- On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 18 Palestinians, including near the Al-Aqsa Hospital, amid escalating violence.
- On Monday, mediators Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey condemned the Israeli attacks, while the Board of Peace met with Netanyahu, who rejected the proposed deal.
- At the Board of Peace’s first meeting in January, Kushner unveiled a master plan for a “New Gaza”, despite at least 80% of Gaza’s buildings being damaged or destroyed.
- Earlier plans described the 150-person outpost as the first stage of a much larger military base intended for 5,000 members of the international force.
Donald Trump’s Board of Peace has awarded its first construction contract for a military base in Gaza to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based firm. The project aims to establish a 150-person outpost to house Moroccan troops, who will rotate from a base in Israel.
The planned facility, measuring 100 by 120 meters, will include basic amenities such as tents, cots, chemical toilets, and handwashing stations, described as "habitable" for the forces.
A Board of Peace official stated that they are in the final stages of preparing several contract awards, but none have been finalized yet. “One prospective contract concerns facilities to support the international stabilization force (ISF), which will assist in implementing the roadmap’s security and governance arrangements,” the official noted.
Morocco's contingent is part of a broader plan, but the ISF's legal framework remains unfinalized, leaving the timeline for troop deployment uncertain. The outpost is seen as a critical first step in a larger military base intended to accommodate up to 5,000 members of the international force.
The Board of Peace's initiative follows a recent announcement by Trump that Hamas had agreed to disarm, although significant questions remain regarding the group's compliance. “At least 80% of Gaza’s buildings were damaged or destroyed in the war,” highlighting the urgent need for reconstruction efforts.
As the situation evolves, the effectiveness of the Board of Peace's plans will be tested against the backdrop of ongoing violence and humanitarian crises in the region.
“The contract, still in final stages, would support the international stabilization force with a 'quick extraction route' and initial tents and cots. This comes as at least 18 Palestinians were killed in recent Israeli strikes, and Netanyahu rejects withdrawal until Hamas fully disarms.”
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