Peace Board presents $2.45 billion Gaza reconstruction plan in New York — Asharq Al-Awsat
The US-backed Peace Board presented a six-month, $2.45 billion plan in New York, United States, to begin reconstruction and governance in the Gaza Strip. The project, which includes 66 initiatives, was presented on September 23 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
66 projects for Gaza
The plan includes initiatives in infrastructure, education and healthcare. Priorities also include the establishment of humanitarian shelters, housing repairs, educational programs and food security. Peace Board documents state that the programs can begin as soon as funding and access to the territory are secured.
According to the Peace Board's estimate, addressing the consequences of physical destruction in Gaza in the medium term will require about $35.2 billion. Another $71.4 billion, according to these calculations, will be needed over the next ten years. The proposed package is intended primarily for potential donors, who are being urged to finance the reconstruction of the war-affected territory.
Conditions for starting recovery
The plan is intended to support US President Donald Trump's 20-point initiative to end the war between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, provided for the further withdrawal of Israeli troops, the disarmament of Hamas, the arrival of international stabilization forces and the formation of a non-political Palestinian government for the day-to-day administration of the sector.
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At the same time, implementation of this plan has slowed significantly. Despite the end of the most intense fighting and an improvement in the humanitarian situation, the Israeli army, according to the publication, occupies approximately 60% of Gaza's territory. Hamas has not laid down its weapons, international forces and the new government have not arrived in the sector, and reconstruction has not yet begun.
International forces and disarmament
Senior Peace Board representative Nikolay Mladenov said that progress depends primarily on the disarmament of Hamas, and also called on Israel to wind down its military operation. According to him, the implementation of the agreements is tied not to calendar deadlines, but to verification of compliance with them.
General Jasper Jeffers, commander of the planned international stabilization forces, outlined a five-stage approach to the demilitarization of Gaza. The first contingent is to be formed by military personnel from Kosovo and Morocco, with servicemembers from Albania and Kazakhstan expected to join them later. The forces are expected to dismantle Hamas's military infrastructure, after which security control will gradually be transferred to the interim government, while Israel is to withdraw its troops.
