Donald Trump’s Board of Peace has awarded, but not finalised, a construction contract for a rudimentary military outpost in Gaza that would house 150 Moroccan troops, a source familiar with the matter told The Guardian.
The contract went to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based firm that has previously worked for the US government in countries including Iraq. The proposed site would be about 100 metres by 120 metres, roughly a mile from the Israeli border, in an area directly controlled by the Israeli army.
At a glance:
- The Board of Peace was established in January to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and is chaired by Trump.
- The proposed outpost would support the international stabilisation force and house rotating Moroccan troops.
- The legal framework for that force has not been finalised, and the timing of any deployment remains unclear.
- Earlier plans described the 150-person site as the first phase of a possible 5,000-person base.
What has been awarded
The contract has not yet been finalised. A Board of Peace official said the board and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a group of Palestinian technocrats installed to oversee the territory, were in the final stages of preparing several contract awards.
Related coverage: Israeli Gaza Pullback Depends on Hamas Disarmament, Board Says.
The official described one prospective contract as facilities to support the international stabilisation force, which is intended to help implement security and governance arrangements under the Gaza roadmap. The proposed outpost is the first construction project linked to the board’s reconstruction effort identified in the source.
Where the outpost would be built
The planned site would be in the 60% of Gaza’s territory directly controlled by the Israeli army. Israeli forces have also established a buffer zone beyond that area.
The source said the outpost would be about a mile from the Israeli border and include a quick extraction route if the small force came under attack. Earlier contract plans described tents and cots, chemical toilets and handwashing stations as facilities suitable for short-term deployments.
More context: Israel Escalates Military Operations in Gaza Despite US-Backed Ceasefire Roadmap.
Why the force’s role remains unsettled
The United Nations resolution authorising the Board of Peace approved an international stabilisation force for Gaza. Morocco has promised a small contingent, but reports have varied over which countries would supply troops.
The legal framework for the force has not been finalised, and it is not clear when a deployment would begin. The award also follows Trump’s announcement that Hamas had agreed to disarm, a proposal facing questions over how the group would surrender its weapons; Israel has opposed the plan and increased airstrikes after the announcement.
A much smaller reconstruction plan
The proposed outpost comes after the board’s reconstruction ambitions were scaled back from an expansive plan for the whole territory to a small pilot project in southern Gaza. Earlier plans identified the 150-person facility as the first stage of a possible 5,000-person military base for the stabilisation force.
Also read: US military action paused in Iran conflict, revealing challenges beyond force.
At the Board of Peace’s first meeting in January, Jared Kushner presented a broader “New Gaza” master plan featuring a waterfront city and mixed-use towers. At least 80% of Gaza’s buildings were damaged or destroyed in the war, while most of the territory’s 2 million residents were still living in makeshift and unsanitary camps 10 months after the ceasefire.
Questions readers ask
Has the contract been finalised?
No. It was awarded to Arkel International, but the Board of Peace said the contract remains among several awards still being prepared.
Who would the outpost house?
It is intended for 150 Moroccan troops who would rotate from a base in Israel, according to the source.
When would the international force deploy?
The deployment date is unclear because the force’s legal framework has not yet been finalised.
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