Trump's Peace Council Proposes $2.45 Billion Gaza Reconstruction Plan

The "Peace Council" associated with Donald Trump has unveiled its initial comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in New York. The proposal outlines spending $2.45 billion over the next six months to initiate 66 projects. These projects range from providing temporary housing and clearing rubble to restoring hospitals, infrastructure, and the economy, alongside establishing a new security system.

Nikolay Mladenov, the High Representative of the Peace Council, presented the plan during a meeting of the organization's member states on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. He clarified that the plan does not aim for complete reconstruction at this stage but rather focuses on a first phase to simultaneously re-establish basic infrastructure and create a governance system for Gaza from the ground up.

Key areas of focus include housing, with plans for temporary shelters for displaced residents, clearing devastated areas, and repairing utility networks. Funds are also earmarked for healthcare, economic recovery, and the deployment of multinational security forces. A crucial condition for the advancement of further reconstruction phases is the disarmament of Hamas, as directly stated by Mladenov.

The Peace Council is not setting a strict timeline, emphasizing the importance of establishing a functional mechanism over adhering to predetermined deadlines. The $2.45 billion represents only a fraction of the total estimated costs, with the Council projecting medium-term reconstruction expenses at approximately $35 billion and additional needs over the next decade at $71.4 billion.

The plan presented in New York is viewed as a move from political declarations to tangible on-the-ground work. The primary challenges ahead involve securing funding, achieving the disarmament of Hamas, and creating the necessary security conditions for large-scale reconstruction to commence.