Trump Administration Plans Military Base in Gaza Amid Board of Peace Initiative
The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to construct a 5,000-person military base in Gaza, intended to serve as a hub for the International Stabilization Force (ISF). This development coincides with the inaugural meeting of Trump’s ‘Board of Peace,’ an organization established to oversee post-war planning for Gaza.
Base Details and Location
According to Board of Peace contracting records reviewed by The Guardian, the base will span approximately 350 acres, with a footprint of 1,400 meters by 1,100 meters. Security measures will include 26 trailer-mounted armored watchtowers and a perimeter encircled by barbed wire. The base will also feature bunkers measuring six by four meters, and 2.5 meters tall, providing shelter for personnel. Plans also include a “Human Remains Protocol” to address the potential discovery of human remains or cultural artifacts during construction, requiring perform to halt and a contracting officer to be notified.
The International Stabilization Force and Board of Peace
The ISF is envisioned as a multinational military force, composed of troops pledged by various nations. The Board of Peace, chaired by Donald Trump and with Jared Kushner playing a key role, is the governing body overseeing the ISF’s deployment and Gaza’s reconstruction. At its first meeting, Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania pledged troops to the ISF, with Indonesia committing up to 8,000 personnel. An Indonesian officer will serve as the force’s deputy commander.
Objectives and Training
U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffries, who will command the ISF, stated the force will initially deploy from southern Gaza and focus on training Palestinian police forces. Approximately 2,000 Palestinians have already applied to join the modern police force The Guardian. The ISF is planned to consist of 20,000 soldiers, tasked with training 12,000 police officers.
Uncertainties and Concerns
The rules of engagement for the ISF remain unclear, particularly regarding potential responses to renewed conflict. It is also unknown whether the force will be tasked with disarming Hamas. The United Nations, which approved the creation of the Board of Peace, has outlined the ISF’s primary objectives as securing Gaza’s borders, maintaining peace, protecting civilians, and training the Palestinian police force BBC News.
Gaza Relief and Reconstruction
Several countries participating in Trump’s Board of Peace have pledged over $7 billion in relief aid for Gaza. However, Israel has indicated that reconstruction efforts will be contingent upon the demilitarization of Gaza BBC News. The ongoing devastation in Gaza, resulting from the conflict that began on October 7, 2023, has left the enclave’s economy in ruins, with an estimated $70 billion in damages according to the UN.