In his remarks during the inaugural meeting of the panel in Washington, Trump claimed that the Board of Peace would oversee the United Nations to ensure proper functioning. This came as a response to allies who were not participating in the panel and were advocating for post-Gaza war reconstruction to be under UN auspices rather than a US-overseen board with a one billion dollar buy-in fee.
The Guardian reported a major development regarding the Board of Peace, stating that Trump is advancing plans for a US military installation inside the Gaza Strip to serve as a “military operating base” for future international forces. The proposed site in southern Gaza would include various facilities and house 5,000 personnel.
While the contracting document for the military outpost has not been made public, it includes provisions for a geophysical survey of the site and protocols for handling any suspected human remains or cultural artifacts found during construction. The presence of thousands of bodies buried underneath the rubble from the war adds a layer of complexity to the situation.
The prospect of a US-backed military base in the Gaza Strip is expected to spark controversy among Palestinians and Arab leaders. Despite previous assurances from the White House that there would be no US boots on the ground in Gaza, the establishment of a military base could make American military advisers a likely presence at the site.
The Board of Peace’s role in ensuring other countries shoulder the burden of Gaza’s future may be challenged by the establishment of an international military base in the region. The potential involvement of American military personnel at the base could contradict previous promises of no US ground presence in Gaza.