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

President Donald Trump's Board of Peace has unveiled a $2.45 billion plan for six months of reconstruction and governance in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. The proposal, laid out during a meeting on Wednesday, envisions a 66-project blueprint to begin the rebuilding process. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, a member of the board's executive board, emphasized that Palestinians require solutions, not slogans.

The projects are designed to align with Trump's 20-point plan to end the war. The board estimates that full reconstruction would cost around $35.2 billion over the medium term, with an additional $71.4 billion needed in the coming decade. The proposal also calls for addressing infrastructure issues such as repairing border crossings, restoring electricity and water systems, distributing 25,000 portable solar power kits, and permanently filling tunnels that need to be cleared for reconstruction priorities.

Despite the October 10 ceasefire, completion of the plan has been slow. Israel continues to occupy about 60% of the territory and frequently launches deadly attacks, claiming they target Hamas militants. Gaza health authorities report that over 1,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died since the ceasefire. Israel has killed four of its soldiers during this period, while Hamas has retained its weapons, despite occasional expressions of disarming.

The Israeli military will only withdraw from occupied areas once Hamas fully disarms and leaves the enclave. Most Palestinians still reside in tent camps or the ruins of their homes, with no international military presence or new government in place. The Board of Peace's high representative, Nikolay Mladenov, stressed that progress hinges on Hamas disarming, but he also urged Israel to decrease its military operations.