US Peace Council Proposes 6-Month Gaza Recovery Plan Costing $2.45 Billion

The "Peace Council," chaired by former U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to unveil a six-month recovery plan for the Gaza Strip with an estimated cost of $2.45 billion. The proposal, detailed by Axios, includes 66 projects focusing on temporary housing, debris removal, hospital repairs, economic revitalization, and the deployment of a multinational security force.

The plan estimates the material damage in Gaza at approximately $35.2 billion, with full recovery and reconstruction requiring around $71.4 billion over the next decade. Key infrastructure initiatives include repairing border crossings, restoring electricity and water systems, installing 25,000 solar power units, and permanently filling tunnels beneath priority reconstruction sites.

This initiative follows a late July notification to Congress by the Trump administration regarding over $206 million in funding for a proposed Gaza peacekeeping force, representing significant early funding for the stalled reconstruction plan. The "Peace Council" was established by Trump to oversee his ambitious plan to end the conflict in Gaza.

Despite an agreement reached in late July, efforts have faced setbacks, with Israel reportedly refusing to implement fragile ceasefire terms necessary for progress. While the full $2.45 billion has not yet been secured by the "Peace Council" and the Palestinian government, they express confidence that donor nations will increase contributions once political obstacles are overcome.