A Louisiana-based company named Arkel International has been selected to build a small military base in Gaza, marking the first project approved by Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, this base, measuring 100 by 120 meters, is designed to house up to 150 Moroccan troops. It is a significant step in Trump’s broader plan to help rebuild the region, which has been devastated by war.
The Board of Peace, chaired by President Trump and featuring prominent figures like his son-in-law Jared Kushner and longtime associate Steve Witkoff, was established in January to manage reconstruction in Gaza. A Board of Peace official confirmed to the Guardian that the group and a separate Palestinian administrative body are close to finalizing multiple contracts, but no deals have been signed yet. The official emphasized the importance of these contracts for Gaza’s future development.
A small base in an area under Israeli control
The planned facility is located in a part of Gaza where Israeli forces have direct authority. It is positioned approximately a mile from the Israeli border, ensuring quick access for Moroccan troops who rotate from a base in Israel. The site will offer basic amenities such as tents, cots, and chemical toilets, providing temporary accommodations for the troops.
The area where the base will be built is within the 60% of Gaza currently under Israeli military control. Additionally, Israeli forces have established a buffer zone beyond this region to provide further security. The base includes an escape route for the troops in the event of an attack, highlighting the strategic considerations behind its location.
From large ambitions to modest first steps
Initially, the Board of Peace had envisioned a much larger project, including a 5,000-person military base with full amenities such as vehicle fighting positions and a perimeter berm. However, the current project, limited to a 150-person base with rudimentary facilities, represents just the first phase of this broader plan. The source revealed that the next steps would depend on the progress and stability achieved in the region.
However, the formal agreement creating the Board of Peace did not go as far as his public statements. At the board’s first meeting in January, Kushner unveiled a vision for a rebuilt Gaza that includes a modern waterfront city with mixed-use towers and commercial hubs.
Despite these ambitious blueprints, the war left at least 80% of Gaza’s buildings in ruin or severely damaged. Over ten months after the ceasefire, the vast majority of the 2 million residents of Gaza remain in temporary shelters and makeshift camps. Living conditions are often unsanitary and lacking in basic infrastructure, underscoring the magnitude of the reconstruction challenge.
Morocco has committed to sending a small military detachment to support the international stabilisation force in Gaza, but the legal agreements allowing this deployment are still under development. The timeline for when the troops will actually arrive has not been finalized, creating uncertainty about the future of the mission. The UN resolution backing the Board of Peace did authorize the creation of an international stabilisation force, but the details of how it will function remain unresolved.