Israel Blocks Gaza Military Base Construction by Trump Peace Council
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Israel is blocking the construction of a military base in Gaza for the Presidential Peace Council, an organization chaired by Donald Trump. The council awarded a contract to Arkel International to build the base for 150 soldiers, but Israel has not allowed contractors or supplies to enter Gaza. This obstruction is halting the council's reconstruction efforts in the Strip. The council hopes Israel will permit the project after the upcoming elections.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel is preventing the construction of a military base in Gaza for the Presidential Peace Council.
- The base was intended for 150 soldiers from various nations serving as an advance unit.
- The council awarded the construction contract to the American firm Arkel International.
- Israel has not allowed contractors or supplies to enter Gaza to begin the work.
- The obstruction is halting the council's broader reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.
- The council hopes Israel will permit the project after the upcoming elections on October 27.
Israel is preventing the establishment of a military base in the Gaza Strip intended for the US-backed "Presidential Peace Council for Gaza and the West Bank," an organization chaired by former US President Donald Trump. The council had awarded its first construction contract in early August to the American firm Arkel International to build a base for 150 soldiers from various nations who would serve as an advance unit for an international stabilization force. However, two months later, Israel has not permitted the contractors or trucks to cross into Gaza to begin work, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The planned temporary base is described as a basic, fortified 100x100 meter compound. It is slated for a site previously occupied by the controversial Humanitarian Aid Foundation for Gaza (GHF), which operated in Gaza from May to October 2025 with private security contractors and received US backing. The new base was intended to house a rotating force of 150 armed soldiers, drawn from a larger contingent of 500 personnel already sent from Morocco and Kosovo.
According to the source, Israel's refusal to allow Arkel International to proceed is effectively paralyzing the council's operations. Without the international stabilization force, entry for construction supplies, infrastructure installation, and essential life support facilities is impossible, hindering any progress on reconstruction efforts. The council reportedly believes Israel may allow the project to move forward after the upcoming Israeli elections on October 27.
The Presidential Peace Council, established earlier this year with 28 participating countries, includes Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and US envoy Steve Witkoff on its managing board. Kushner has previously presented renderings for a luxury resort city in Gaza. In late September, the council unveiled a six-month, $2.45 billion plan as the first phase of Gaza's reconstruction, with a ten-year total cost estimated at $71 billion. Senior advisor Arie Lightstone also announced the formation of a donation fund.
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