Trump's Board of Peace proposes $2.45B for reconstruction in Gaza

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, a member of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, emphasized that Palestinians in Gaza need a solution rather than just a slogan. The board unveiled a six-month plan to reconstruct and govern the Palestinian Gaza Strip, with a budget of approximately $2.45 billion, which amounts to around €2.15 billion.

The blueprint includes 66 projects aimed at achieving this goal, aligning with the overall 20-point plan to end the war. The high estimated cost for full reconstruction over the medium term is roughly $35.2 billion, and an additional $71.4 billion is projected for the next decade. Key initiatives include repairing border crossings, restoring electricity and water infrastructure, deploying portable solar power kits, and permanently filling tunnels beneath sites prioritized for reconstruction.

This proposal comes after the ceasefire on October 10, which President Trump facilitated but has seen limited progress in implementation. Despite the ceasefire, Israel still occupies about 60% of the territory and continues to carry out deadly attacks claiming civilians as casualties, while Hamas has not disarmed, despite occasional expressions of readiness to do so.

The Israeli military has reported four of its soldiers killed during this period. The Gaza health authorities have documented over 1,300 Palestinian fatalities, mostly civilians, since the ceasefire. The Israeli military has claimed four of its soldiers have been killed as well. Meanwhile, most Palestinians continue to reside in makeshift tent camps or the ruins of their former homes, with no international military force or new government emerging to aid in the reconstruction efforts.

Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative, has stressed that progress is contingent upon Hamas disarming, yet he has also urged Israel to lessen its military operations.