Trump's Board of Peace Proposes $2.45 Billion Plan for Gaza Reconstruction

The U.S.-backed Board of Peace has unveiled a $2.45 billion, six-month plan designed to initiate reconstruction and establish governance in Gaza, according to a report from ABC News. This proposal emerges as former President Donald Trump’s broader ceasefire strategy for the region encounters persistent difficulties.

During a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, the board presented a 66-project blueprint. These initiatives encompass infrastructure, education, and health projects, intended to support Trump's 20-point plan aimed at resolving the Israel-Hamas war. The board emphasized the "immense" need, noting that the territory's full reconstruction is estimated to cost approximately $35.2 billion in the medium term and an additional $71.4 billion over the next decade.

The proposal targets potential donors to fund the rebuilding of the war-affected territory. The ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, was intended to facilitate a larger reconstruction process for Gaza under the Board of Peace's guidance. This plan had envisioned further Israeli military withdrawals, the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of an international peacekeeping force, and the establishment of a new, non-political Palestinian government to manage Gaza's affairs, alongside reconstruction efforts.

However, the U.S.-backed plan has largely stalled. While the fighting has subsided and humanitarian conditions have seen some improvement, the Israeli military has increased its control over Gaza, now occupying about 60% of the territory. Hamas has not relinquished its weapons, and the planned international force and new government have yet to enter Gaza, preventing any reconstruction from commencing. The majority of Palestinians continue to reside in temporary shelters or the remnants of their former homes.

Nikolay Mladenov, the board's high representative, has stated that progress is contingent on Hamas disarming, a condition the group has resisted. He has also urged Israel to reduce its military operations. "We want to make sure that this works," Mladenov remarked, indicating that the process is not bound by a strict timeline.

Key challenges for the board include not only formulating reconstruction plans but also establishing a timeline for the international force's deployment, securing a new government, facilitating Hamas's disarmament, and enabling the import of essential building materials.

U.S. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, who is slated to command the international stabilization force for Gaza, outlined a five-step strategy for demilitarizing Hamas. This approach includes the initial deployment of multinational troops from Kosovo and Morocco, followed by personnel from Albania and Kazakhstan. Their mission would be to demilitarize the territory and dismantle Hamas's military infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of transferring security control to an interim government. Following this transition, Israel would be expected to withdraw its forces.