Khaberni - President Trump's administration plans to build a military base accommodating 5000 people in Gaza, spanning over 350 acres, according to the Peace Council's contracting records reviewed by The Guardian newspaper.
The site is expected to become a military operations base for a future international stabilization force, planned as a multinational military force composed of committed soldiers.
This force is part of the newly established Peace Council charged with managing Gaza. The Peace Council is chaired by Donald Trump, partially led by his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The plans reviewed by The Guardian newspaper include the construction of a military site in stages, with the final dimensions being 1400 meters by 1100 meters, surrounded by 26 armored observation towers mounted on trailers, a small arms range, shelters, and a depot for the military equipment needed for operations. The entire site will be enclosed by barbed wire.
The fortifications are planned for a barren area of the plains south of the Gaza Strip, and The Guardian newspaper has viewed a video clip of the area. An informed source told The Guardian that a small group of construction companies experienced in conflict zones—international construction companies that had already visited the site.
Reports indicate that the Indonesian government has offered to send up to 8000 soldiers. The Indonesian president was one of four leaders from Southeast Asia scheduled to attend the Peace Council's inaugural meeting in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
The United Nations Security Council has authorized the Peace Council to establish a temporary international stabilization force in Gaza. This force, according to the United Nations, will be responsible for securing the borders of Gaza and maintaining peace within it. It is also supposed to protect civilians, train, and support the accredited Palestinian police forces.
It is unclear what the rules of engagement that the Israeli security forces will follow in case of fighting, renewed Israeli bombing, or Hamas' attacks. It is also unclear what role these forces are supposed to play in disarming Hamas, which is an Israeli condition for moving forward with the reconstruction of Gaza.
Although more than 20 countries have joined the Peace Council, most countries in the world have withheld from joining. Although its establishment was approved by the United Nations, the charter of the organization appears to grant Trump permanent leadership and control.
According to the plans, there will be a network of bunkers, each measuring 6 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 2.5 meters high, equipped with advanced ventilation systems where soldiers can seek refuge for protection.
The document stipulates that "the contractor must conduct a geophysical survey of the site to identify any voids, tunnels, or large cavities underground at each stage." This clause is likely referring to the large network of tunnels that Hamas has built in Gaza.
One section of the document describes "the human remains protocol". It states that "in the event human remains or suspected archaeological artifacts are discovered, all work in the adjacent area must be stopped immediately, the area secured, and the contracting officer notified right away to receive directions."
It is believed that the bodies of about 10,000 Palestinians are buried under the rubble in Gaza, according to Gaza's Civil Defense.
It is still unclear who owns the land where the military complex is scheduled to be built, but most of the Southern Gaza area is currently under Israeli control. United Nations estimates indicate that at least 1.9 million Palestinians were displaced during the war.
