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Trump's 'Board of Peace' awards first Gaza reconstruction contract for Moroccan military outpost

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Board of Peace, established by former U.S. President Trump, has awarded its first Gaza reconstruction contract to Arkel International.
  • The project involves building a temporary military outpost for 150 Moroccan troops, intended to support an International Stabilization Force.
  • This development follows Trump's announcement of Hamas's agreement to disarm, a claim met with skepticism and intensified Israeli airstrikes.

The Board of Peace, an initiative spearheaded by former U.S. President Donald Trump to oversee Gaza's reconstruction, has awarded its inaugural contract. The project, assigned to Louisiana-based Arkel International, involves constructing a modest military outpost capable of housing 150 Moroccan troops. This development comes after Trump announced Hamas had agreed to disarm, a claim that has been met with considerable doubt and followed by increased Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

The council is in the final stages of preparing to award several contracts, none of which have been finalized yet.

— Board of Peace officialAn official from the Board of Peace confirmed that multiple contracts are nearing finalization, including one for supporting an International Stabilization Force.

The Board of Peace, chaired by Trump and led by his son-in-law Jared Kushner and advisor Steve Witkoff, aims to facilitate reconstruction efforts in the war-torn territory. An official stated that several contracts are in the final stages of being awarded, including one to support an "International Stabilization Force" (ISF) that would aid in security and governance arrangements.

Details from The Guardian suggest the outpost will be a 100x120 meter facility located within the 60% of Gaza territory under direct Israeli military control. It will be situated approximately 1.6 kilometers from the Israeli border and include a "rapid evacuation route." This outpost is envisioned as the first phase of a larger 5,000-person military base for the ISF, a force whose establishment is approved by a UN resolution, though the contributing nations remain unclear. Morocco has pledged a small contingent, but the legal framework and deployment timeline are still undecided.

One potential contract involves support facilities for the 'International Stabilization Force' (ISF), which will assist in implementing security and governance arrangements in the roadmap.

— Board of Peace officialThe official elaborated on the purpose of the potential contract, highlighting its role in security and governance within Gaza.

This initiative contrasts sharply with Kushner's initial vision of a sprawling coastal city with mixed-use buildings, presented as a symbol of hope and industry. However, with at least 80% of Gaza's buildings damaged or destroyed in the conflict, the majority of its 2 million residents continue to live in unsanitary temporary camps.

This contract will be one of many important contracts for the future of Gaza.

— Board of Peace officialThe official emphasized the significance of this contract within the broader context of Gaza's future reconstruction and stability.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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