Documents have revealed that the administration of former US president Donald Trump is planning the construction of a large military base in the southern Gaza Strip, capable of accommodating approximately 5,000 soldiers. The project forms part of a broader plan to establish an International Stabilisation Force, operating under the supervision of what is referred to as the Peace Council, chaired by Trump and partly led by his son in law Jared Kushner.
According to a report published today by the British newspaper The Guardian, the proposed base would span approximately 350 acres. Plans include the construction of a fortified military complex measuring 1,400 metres in length and 1,100 metres in width. The compound would be surrounded by 26 armoured watchtowers mounted on wheels, in addition to a firing range, military bunkers, equipment storage facilities and barbed wire fencing encircling the perimeter. The identified location lies in a flat desert area south of Gaza, where white shrubs grow amid remnants of twisted metal left from years of Israeli bombardment.
The documents indicate that construction would take place in phases. The site would include a network of bunkers equipped with advanced ventilation systems, alongside a protocol for handling human remains or cultural artefacts. This aspect carries particular sensitivity given estimates by Palestinian Civil Defence authorities that around 10,000 Palestinian bodies remain buried beneath the rubble across the Strip.
Mandate and Unclear Operational Role
The Peace Council, which reportedly obtained authorisation from the United Nations Security Council, aims to establish a temporary international force tasked with securing borders, maintaining security in Gaza, protecting civilians and supporting the training of vetted Palestinian police personnel.
However, the operational role of the international force remains unclear in the event of renewed fighting or attacks by Israel or Hamas. It is also uncertain what role, if any, the force would play in the disarmament of Hamas, a condition repeatedly put forward by Israel as a prerequisite for reconstruction in Gaza.
A source close to the planning process stated that a small group of international construction firms with experience in conflict zones has already visited the proposed site. The Indonesian government has reportedly offered to deploy up to 8,000 troops to participate in the international force, and the Indonesian president attended a preliminary meeting of the Peace Council in Washington.
Legal Concerns and Questions of Legitimacy
Adil Haque, a legal scholar at Rutgers University, questioned the legitimacy of the Peace Council, describing it as “a fictitious legal entity that appears independent of the United Nations and the United States, but in reality functions as a US instrument to control whatever it wishes.” He added that the council’s funding mechanisms and administrative structures remain opaque, and that discussions with US officials are often conducted through the Signal messaging application rather than official email channels.
Palestinian Canadian lawyer Diana Buttu described the establishment of a military base on Palestinian land without the consent of the Palestinian government as “an act of occupation.” She asked, “Who granted permission for this base to be built?”
Officials from the US Central Command referred all inquiries to the Peace Council. Meanwhile, a Trump administration official declined to discuss contractual details, stating, “As the president has said, there will be no American troops on the ground, and we will not discuss leaked documents.”
Humanitarian Context
These plans emerge at a time when the Gaza Strip continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis. Approximately 1.9 million Palestinians remain displaced, while the aftermath of a devastating war has left infrastructure shattered and daily life profoundly disrupted.
