Trump plans to establish 'massive' military base in southern Gaza: Report

US President Donald Trump has plans to set up a large military base in the Gaza Strip to serve as the “military operating base” for thousands of international troops, a report says.

Citing documents from Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace” for Gaza, the Guardian reported on Thursday that the plans include “the phased construction of a military outpost that will eventually have a footprint of 1,400 meters by 1,100 meters".

It will be ringed by 26 trailer-mounted armored watch towers, a small arms range, bunkers, and a warehouse for military equipment for operations, the report said, adding that the whole site will be surrounded by barbed wire.

The base, which is planned to be constructed in southern Gaza, is reportedly supposed to host 5,000 foreign troops set to be deployed to the strip as envisioned in Washington’s so-called “peace plan”.

“A small group of bidders – international construction companies with experience in war zones – have already been shown the area in a site visit,” a source close to the planning said.

According to an informed source, the contracting document for the base was issued by the Trump-led board for Gaza.

“The Contractor shall conduct a geophysical survey of the site to identify any subterranean voids, tunnels, or large cavities per phase,” the “Board of Peace” document reads.

"If suspected human remains or cultural artifacts are discovered, all work in the immediate area must cease immediately, the area must be secured, and the Contracting Officer must be notified immediately for direction.”

More than 10,000 Palestinian are believed buried under the rubble in Gaza due to Israel’s genocide and the Israeli restrictions on entry of proper equipment.

“Whose permission did they get to build that military base?” Palestinian–Canadian lawyer Diana Buttu said.

The report came as the inaugural meeting of ‘Board of Peace’ kicked off.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas strongly condemned the convening of Gaza’s so-called Board of Peace in the United States.

Hamas affirmed that any political path or arrangements regarding Gaza must be based on a complete halt to Israeli aggression.

The International Stabilization Force (ISF) envisioned in the agreement has not been deployed, as several countries involved in the plan were uncomfortable with potentially being forced into a conflict with Hamas.

Hamas condemns Trump's 'Board of Peace' meeting, calls for immediate halt to Israeli aggression

Hamas has strongly condemned the convening of Gaza’s so-called Board of Peace in the United States.

Trump’s plan calls on the ISF to enforce disarmament in the strip.

Indonesia has said it would be willing to deploy thousands of peacekeeping troops, and Pakistani officials have also offered peacekeepers but said disarming the resistance is “not our job.”

The Telegraph revealed that Washington is planning to enlist Israeli-backed gangs and criminal organizations to serve as a local police force in Gaza, including the smuggling and aid looting militias of Hossam al-Astal and the slain Yasser Abu Shabab.

“The plan to recruit the new police force from the clans emerged before Christmas, prompting disagreement at the multi-national new Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel”, the report said. Some US Army officials opposed the idea.

“There was significant pushback along the lines of ‘this is ridiculous – they’re not only criminal gangs but they’re sponsored by Israel,’” a western source said.

Another source stressed that Trump’s plan “will not work without reliable security partners.”

Throughout Israel’s genocidal war, these gangs received support from Israel.

Last December, Israeli collaborator and Daesh-linked leader Yasser Abu Shabab, known for participating in looting aid and targeting Palestinian civilians, was reportedly killed in Gaza.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli genocidal war has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 172,000 more.

The Tel Aviv regime continues to violate the US-brokered ceasefire reached last October on a daily basis and since the start of it, Israeli forces have killed several hundred more Palestinians.

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