Exclusive: Trump Administration Plans Massive Military Base in Gaza
According to exclusive documents reviewed by the Guardian, the Trump administration is advancing plans to construct a sprawling military base in Gaza capable of housing up to 5,000 personnel. The proposed compound would cover approximately 350 acres in southern Gaza, designed as a military operating base for a future International Stabilization Force (ISF).
Details of the Planned Military Compound
The Board of Peace, a newly created entity chaired by Donald Trump and partially led by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, issued the contracting records. The plans outline a phased construction of a military outpost measuring 1,400 meters by 1,100 meters. This fortified base would be encircled with barbed wire and feature 26 trailer-mounted armored watch towers, a small arms range, bunkers, and a warehouse for military equipment.
The site is located in an arid, flat area of southern Gaza, characterized by saltbush and white broom shrubs, and littered with twisted metal from years of Israeli bombardment. A geophysical survey is required to identify any subterranean voids, tunnels, or large cavities, likely referencing Hamas's extensive tunnel network in Gaza.
International Stabilization Force and Governance Concerns
The ISF is intended as a multinational military force composed of pledged troops, tasked with securing Gaza's border, maintaining peace, protecting civilians, and training vetted Palestinian police forces. The UN Security Council authorized the Board of Peace to establish this temporary force. Indonesia has reportedly offered to send up to 8,000 troops, with its president scheduled to attend the Board of Peace's inaugural meeting in Washington DC.
However, the ISF's rules of engagement remain unclear in scenarios involving combat, renewed Israeli bombing, or attacks by Hamas. Additionally, its role in disarming Hamas, an Israeli condition for Gaza's reconstruction, is not defined. Over 20 countries have joined the Board of Peace, but major European allies have declined participation.
Legal and Ethical Controversies
Adil Haque, a professor of law at Rutgers University, criticized the Board of Peace as a "legal fiction," nominally separate from the UN and the US but essentially an empty shell for American interests. The funding and governance structures are described as murky, with contractors noting that conversations with US officials often occur on encrypted platforms like Signal rather than official government channels.
The contracting document includes a "Human Remains Protocol," requiring work to cease immediately if suspected human remains or cultural artifacts are discovered. This is significant given that Gaza's civil defense agency estimates about 10,000 Palestinian bodies are buried under rubble. Diana Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer and former peace negotiator, condemned the plan as an act of occupation, questioning whose permission was obtained to build on Palestinian land.
Ownership and Displacement Issues
It is unclear who owns the land designated for the military compound, though much of southern Gaza is currently under Israeli control. The UN estimates at least 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced during the conflict. US Central Command referred all inquiries to the Board of Peace, while a Trump administration official declined to discuss the contract, stating, "As the President has said, no US boots will be on the ground. We're not going to discuss leaked documents."
This development raises profound questions about the future governance of Gaza, the role of international forces, and the implications for Palestinian sovereignty and peace efforts in the region.
