The Board of Peace, chaired by President Trump and led by figures including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, has issued its initial construction contract in Gaza. The project involves building a small military facility to accommodate approximately 150 Moroccan troops. The contract was awarded to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based construction firm with prior experience conducting government work in Iraq and other nations.
A Board of Peace official confirmed the contract remains in final stages but characterized it as one of multiple pending contract awards. The official noted the facility would support the international stabilisation force referenced in agreements governing Gaza’s administration and security arrangements. The base would measure roughly 100 by 120 metres and would be located in territory currently controlled by the Israeli military, approximately one mile from the border, with provisions for rapid evacuation if necessary.
The announcement follows Trump’s statement earlier this week that Hamas had agreed to disarm, though implementation details remain uncertain. Israel has expressed opposition to certain aspects of the plan and escalated airstrikes following the announcement. The contract award represents a significant scaling back of the board’s initial ambitions; reporting from the previous month indicated that comprehensive reconstruction plans for the entire territory had been substantially reduced to a smaller pilot initiative in southern Gaza.
Earlier contract documents reviewed by media outlets indicated the 150-person facility represented a first phase of a larger 5,000-person military installation. The international stabilisation force concept was authorized through a UN resolution, though the legal framework governing its operations has not yet been finalized. Morocco committed to providing troops for the force, but deployment timelines and other operational details remain uncertain.
The board’s original vision involved extensive infrastructure development, including plans for a reconstructed Gaza with modern waterfront development. However, the territory currently faces significant challenges, with at least 80 percent of buildings damaged or destroyed and approximately 2 million residents living in temporary shelters ten months following the ceasefire agreement.
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