Israel Blocks International Force Base in Gaza, Halting Trump Plan

Israel is preventing the establishment of a military base in the Gaza Strip for an international stabilization force, a project promoted by a council established by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The British newspaper The Guardian reported Wednesday that Israel is not allowing contractors and trucks to enter Gaza to begin construction, thereby delaying other reconstruction plans by the Peace Council.

In early August, the Peace Council awarded its first construction contract in Gaza to the American company Arkel International, based in Louisiana. The company was selected to build a fortified base for 150 soldiers, intended to serve as the vanguard of the International Stabilization Force (ISF). However, more than two months later, work has not commenced. "Israel is not opening the border," a source familiar with the matter told The Guardian. The source explained that without the base, the rest of the plan cannot proceed, stating, "You cannot enter without the ISF. You cannot rebuild. There is no security, no delivery of construction equipment. You cannot even begin to establish basic infrastructure and services that would allow for a stay on site."

The planned base is a fortified compound approximately 100 by 100 meters, designed for short stays by well-armed soldiers. According to the source, these soldiers would come from a larger contingent of about 500 military personnel from Morocco and Kosovo, who have already been dispatched as part of the preparations for the international force. The chosen site previously housed operations for the Gaza Humanitarian Aid Fund (GHF), which operated in Gaza from May to October 2025. The GHF, supported by the U.S. and Israel, ran food distribution centers using private logistics and security firms, drawing sharp criticism from aid and human rights organizations.

Arkel International was a subcontractor for the GHF after the elections, previously providing logistics services and recruiting truck drivers from Georgia and Serbia for aid transport. The company registered in Israel in May 2025, with businessman Hezi Bezalel serving as its representative. Arkel International has also performed infrastructure and logistics work for the U.S. government, including in Iraq. The Guardian reported that the Peace Council estimates the Israeli government will permit construction to begin after the Knesset elections on October 27. A spokesperson for the Peace Council, the Israeli government, and the IDF all declined to comment on the report.

The Peace Council, established following the October 2025 ceasefire and approved by the UN, is intended to oversee security and reconstruction arrangements in Gaza. Trump serves as the council's lifelong chairman, with his son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff also on its board. Despite reservations from many Western countries, 28 nations have joined as founding members. In September, the council presented a six-month, $2.45 billion reconstruction plan, the first phase of a ten-year initiative estimated at $71 billion. Kushner has previously outlined a vision for transforming Gaza into a luxury coastal city with skyscrapers and technology hubs. However, the report indicates that even the construction of the modest military base needed to initiate reconstruction activities is stalled. This delay occurs amidst ongoing Israeli strikes in Gaza, despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025. According to Gaza health authorities, approximately 1,400 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire.