Trump Gaza Board of Peace awards first contract for military base

The international body tasked with overseeing the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip has issued its initial construction contract according to reporting covered by Aol. Rather than funding housing or civilian infrastructure for a displaced population, the agreement targets a rudimentary military outpost.

Reporting published by the Irish Times details that the Board of Peace has awarded the project to Arkel International. The Louisiana-based firm previously carried out work alongside the US government in countries such as Iraq. The contract remains unfinalised.

Media additions

The Board of Peace operates under the chairmanship of Donald Trump. Leadership includes his son-in-law Jared Kushner alongside friend Steve Witkoff.

Scope and Scale of the Outpost

The planned installation marks a dramatic scaling down from earlier ambitions. Initial proposals envisioned rebuilding the entire territory. Plans have since shrunk to a small pilot project situated in the south of the strip.

Specifications for the initial phase outline a compound measuring 100 metres by 120 metres. The site is intended to house a contingent of Moroccan troops rotating from a base in Israel. Plans place the location approximately a mile from the Israeli border within territory directly controlled by the Israeli army, which has also established a surrounding buffer zone. Sources indicate the design incorporates a quick extraction route should the small force face attacks.

Earlier contract plans reviewed by reporters outlined a multi-phase vision. The initial 150-person deployment serves as the first phase of a broader plan targeting a 5,000-person military base for the international stabilisation force. Initial living conditions were described as rudimentary:

"tents and cots for forces to sleep, as well as chemical toilets and handwashing stations. At this phase, this is what we would consider habitable."

Contract plans seen by reporters via AOL and Irish Times

Subsequent phases for the larger facility were projected to include vehicle fighting positions and a perimeter berm, serving as a raised defensive bank for short-term deployments.

Conflicting Statements and Governance

Official statements from the Board of Peace offer a cautious stance regarding the current contracting phase. In an email communication, a board official stated that leadership and a group of Palestinian technocrats installed to oversee Gaza are in the final stages of preparing several contract awards, confirming that none have been finalised yet.

The Palestinian oversight body is known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. According to the board official, prospective contracts concern facilities supporting the international stabilisation force, which will assist in implementing roadmap security and governance arrangements. The official described the contract as one of many essential elements for the future of the territory.

Meanwhile, the United Nations resolution authorising the Board of Peace approved establishing the international stabilisation force. While Morocco promised a small contingent, the legal framework for the force remains unfinished, and deployment timelines are unclear.

Context of Reconstruction and Wider Plans

The pivot toward military infrastructure contrasts sharply with initial visions presented for the territory. In February, statements from Washington claimed the US would take over and own Gaza, although subsequent agreements establishing the Board of Peace fell short of that outcome.

During the board meeting, Kushner unveiled a master plan to build "New Gaza". The presentation featured an expansive waterfront city boasting mixed-use towers, with Kushner stating:

"It could be a hope, it could be a destination. A lot of industry."

Jared Kushner, Board of Peace leader, via AOL and Irish Times

Realities on the ground remain severe. Extensive conflict damaged or destroyed a vast majority of buildings across the strip. Months after a ceasefire took effect, most of the territory's population continues to reside in makeshift and unsanitary camps.

What to Watch Next

• Finalisation of the contract awarded to Arkel International for the initial military outpost.
• Finalisation of the legal framework governing the international stabilisation force and confirmation of troop deployment timelines.
• Further contract awards anticipated from the Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
• Developments regarding the proposed disarmament roadmap and ongoing security operations in the region.