Board of Peace issues first construction contract for Moroccan security force base in Gaza - report

The Board of Peace, headed by US President Donald Trump, has recently awarded its inaugural construction contract for a military outpost in the Gaza Strip, according to a source close to the situation. This base will house a team of 150 Moroccan soldiers, who will be stationed there temporarily, rotating out from a base in Israel. The proposed structure will span 100 by 120 meters in size.

The new site is situated roughly a mile away from the Israeli border, within the region of Gaza that is under Israeli control. To ensure rapid deployment of the troops, there will be a designated "quick extraction route" that will facilitate their swift movement in and out of the base.

Initial plans for the base had been part of a larger project, which aimed to construct a 5,000-person military base in Gaza. However, the current contract only encompasses the first phase, which involves basic provisions such as tents, cots, chemical toilets, and handwashing stations. This basic level of accommodation is deemed sufficient to provide a habitable environment for the Moroccan forces.

The contract has been awarded to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based firm that has previously collaborated with the US government in various Middle Eastern projects. A spokesperson from the Board of Peace, speaking via email, confirmed that the contract award process is nearing completion. However, the spokesperson clarified that none of the contracts have been finalized yet.

According to the spokesperson, another prospective contract pertains to facilities supporting an international stabilization force (ISF). This ISF will aid in executing the security and governance arrangements stipulated in the roadmap. This contract, like the one for the Moroccan military base, is viewed as a crucial step towards the future of Gaza.