Israel Blocks Construction of International Forces Base in Gaza

Israel is preventing the construction of a military base in the Gaza Strip intended for the International Stabilization Forces (ISF), a component of a peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to The Guardian. The newspaper reports that in early August, the "Peace Council," established by Trump, selected a contractor for its first Gaza project. Arkel International, a U.S. company from Louisiana with prior experience on U.S. government contracts, was awarded the bid to build a base designed to house 150 soldiers.

However, construction has not commenced for over two months. A source familiar with the project told The Guardian that Israeli authorities are withholding entry permits for contractors and construction equipment into Gaza. "Israel is not opening the border," the source stated. The planned facility is described as a relatively small, fortified structure approximately 100 by 100 meters, to be situated on land previously used by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) for aid distribution between May and October 2025, with the involvement of U.S. private security firms.

The base would accommodate rotating contingents of up to 150 ISF soldiers, drawn from a 500-strong military group contributed by Morocco and Kosovo. These soldiers would serve limited terms before being replaced. The source emphasized that the base's construction is a prerequisite for all other Peace Council projects, as the presence of international forces is deemed essential for ensuring the security of construction work, material delivery, infrastructure restoration, and civilian accommodation.

"Without the International Stabilization Forces, access is impossible. Restoration work cannot be done," the source explained, adding that without them, even utility line installation cannot begin. The Guardian learned that the Peace Council hopes Israel will grant construction permits after the Israeli parliamentary elections on October 27, though there is no official confirmation of this.

Previously, The Guardian reported that the initial plan involved a much larger base for 5,000 soldiers, covering approximately 1.4 million square meters and including observation posts, bunkers, and weapons storage. These plans were significantly scaled down, with the 150-person base becoming part of a pilot project for the southern Gaza Strip. In September, the Peace Council unveiled a $2.45 billion six-month Gaza recovery program comprising 66 infrastructure, medical, educational, and security projects, with long-term recovery costs estimated in the tens of billions.

The Peace Council was formed after an October 2025 ceasefire agreement. Donald Trump chairs the council, with Jared Kushner and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff among its executive leadership. The UN Security Council-approved plan tasks the ISF with enhancing Gaza's security, border protection, and Palestinian police training. A Peace Council representative declined to comment on the construction delay, as did representatives from the Israeli government and the IDF. The official reason for the permit denial remains undisclosed.