The Gaza Board of Peace announced plans for a military outpost in the Gaza Strip, awarding the construction contract to Arkel International. The proposed 100-meter by 100-meter facility is designed to house 150 international troops, crucial for the Board's broader reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
Despite the contract, Israeli authorities have not granted permission for construction to begin. Sources indicate that Israel's refusal to authorize the project has halted progress. One source stated, "Israel won’t open the border," highlighting the ongoing access issues.
The Board of Peace has awarded its first Gaza construction contract, tasking a Louisiana firm with a 150-person military outpost for Moroccan troops, the Guardian reports. The base sits about a mile from the Israeli border, inside the 60% of Gaza under IDF control.
The outpost is seen as essential for the Board of Peace's reconstruction agenda. A source emphasized, "You can’t get in without an International Stabilization Force (ISF). You can’t rebuild," linking the troops' presence to the success of rebuilding efforts.
You can’t rebuild," linking the troops' presence to the success of rebuilding efforts.
The delay is tied to Israel's political calendar, with expectations that construction approval may come after the elections. This suggests the current administration is withholding approval pending potential leadership or policy changes.
🇺🇸🇵🇸 Trump's Board of Peace was sold as rebuilding Gaza, but its first contract is a military base. Launched at Davos in January with Kushner's "New Gaza" pitch of waterfront towers and industry. 7 months on, the first actual deal is a 150-person outpost for Moroccan troops. It's tiny, 100 by 120 metres, inside the 60% of Gaza the Israeli army controls, a mile from the border. The troops rotate in from a base in Israel, with a "quick extraction route" if they're hit. The grand rebuild already shrank to a small pilot. Meanwhile 80% of Gaza's buildings are wrecked, and 10 months after the ceasefire most of its 2 million people are still in camps. First brick laid in the great rebuild: a barracks for foreign troops. Source: The Guardian / Writer: Daniyal
Construction remains on hold, with the Board of Peace's plans stalled until Israel's stance shifts, possibly post-elections. The proposed base for 150 troops and the associated reconstruction efforts are in limbo, awaiting political developments.