Trump’s Board of Peace is set to unveil a six-month, $2.45 billion recovery plan for Gaza, outlining 66 projects covering temporary housing, infrastructure, healthcare, economic recovery and security.
The proposal is the result of a year of work involving dozens of people from the 28-member Board of Peace and the Palestinian technocratic government, according to Axios, which obtained a copy of the plan.
The recovery plan for Gaza is intended to provide a roadmap for the first stages of post-war reconstruction and governance.
Six areas of reconstruction
The 66 projects are divided into six areas: infrastructure development, human development, economic acceleration, digital transformation, legal affairs, and peace and security.
Infrastructure would receive about $1 billion, including roughly $400 million for temporary shelters, $275 million for rubble and unexploded ordnance clearance, $50 million for hospital rehabilitation and $30 million for road repairs.
The plan also includes repairs to border crossings and electricity and water networks, the deployment of 25,000 portable solar-power kits and the permanent filling of tunnels beneath locations considered important for reconstruction.
Security measures
Security-related projects account for about $885 million of the proposed six-month spending.
The plan includes $275 million for a permanent site in Rafah capable of supporting 5,000 personnel from the International Stabilization Force and $140 million to recruit, train, equip and deploy a multinational security contingent.
A further $120 million would support the mobilisation of Palestinian police. According to the plan, thousands of Palestinians from Gaza have been selected and vetted for the force, although Israel has blocked their departure for training in Egypt.
Another $20 million would fund a weapons buy-back programme aimed at encouraging Hamas and other armed groups to surrender weapons and ammunition for safe disposal.
The Palestinian technocratic government would eventually take responsibility for Gaza’s crossings with Israel and Egypt for goods and passengers, according to the proposal.
Housing and basic services
One of the immediate priorities identified in the plan is moving displaced Palestinians out of tents.
About $400 million would be allocated for insulated caravans for people currently living in tents. The UAE would separately finance a pilot “Emirati Neighborhood” in the Rafah area intended to house 50,000 people and provide independent utilities.
The plan also sets aside about $300 million for health, education and welfare programmes.
Beyond emergency relief
The proposal also seeks to establish the foundations of a functioning Palestinian administration and revive Gaza’s private sector.
Projects include a digital identification system, digital payments, 4G connectivity, electronic health and education systems, grants for small businesses and a new investment fund.
The Board of Peace and the Palestinian technocratic government say the recovery process should be Palestinian-led and based on “Palestinian ownership”.
Long-term reconstruction needs
The plan estimates the physical damage in Gaza at $35.2 billion and puts the total cost of full recovery and reconstruction at about $71.4 billion over the next decade.
However, the Board of Peace and the Palestinian technocratic government have not yet secured the full $2.45 billion required for the initial six-month programme.
Officials said they do not expect the entire amount to be available immediately when the Palestinian technocratic government enters Gaza, expressing confidence that donor countries will contribute once political obstacles are resolved.
Israel and Hamas cooperation key
Implementation of the proposal would require cooperation from both Israel and Hamas.
According to Axios, Israel’s government has agreed in principle to aspects of the proposal previously discussed but has not begun implementation. Hamas has also agreed in principle to disarm, although the process has not yet been tested.
The Board of Peace is looking to the period following Israel’s October 27 election and the formation of a new government as a possible point for the recovery process to begin.
Representatives from 35 countries are expected at Wednesday’s briefing, including officials from the EU and several EU member states that are not Board of Peace members.
Jared Kushner and White House envoy Steve Witkoff are among those expected to address participants.
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