US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is set to unveil a six-month, $2.45 billion recovery programme for Gaza at a meeting of its members on Wednesday, outlining plans for temporary accommodation, debris clearance, hospital repairs, economic recovery and a multinational security force.
The proposal, obtained by Axios, contains 66 projects and is being presented as a roadmap for Gaza’s initial post-war reconstruction and governance. It follows about a year of work involving dozens of people from the 28-member Board of Peace and the Palestinian technocratic government.
A Board of Peace official described the plan as an attempt to establish a government, revive the economy and rebuild territory devastated by war.
Housing, infrastructure and security at the centre
The plan allocates roughly $1 billion to infrastructure projects, including about $400 million for temporary shelters, $275 million for rubble and unexploded ordnance clearance, $50 million for hospital rehabilitation and $30 million for damaged roads. It also proposes repairing border crossings, restoring electricity and water networks, deploying 25,000 portable solar-power kits and permanently filling tunnels beneath locations needed for priority reconstruction.
About $885 million is earmarked for security-related projects. This includes $275 million for a permanent facility in Rafah that could support 5,000 personnel from the International Stabilization Force and $140 million to recruit, train, equip and deploy a multinational security contingent.
Another $120 million would be used to mobilise Palestinian police. Thousands of Palestinians from Gaza have reportedly been selected and vetted for the proposed force, although Israel has prevented them from leaving Gaza for training in Egypt. The plan also includes $20 million for a weapons buy-back programme covering weapons and ammunition surrendered by Hamas and other armed groups.
The proposal envisages the Palestinian technocratic government eventually taking control of Gaza’s crossings with Israel and Egypt for passengers and goods.
For displaced Palestinians living in tents, around $400 million is earmarked for insulated caravans. The UAE is separately expected to finance a pilot “Emirati Neighborhood” in Rafah for about 50,000 people, with independent utilities. Around $300 million is also proposed for health, education and welfare programmes.
Gaza reconstruction estimated at $71.4 billion
The six-month programme represents only an initial phase of a much larger reconstruction effort. The plan estimates physical damage in Gaza at $35.2 billion and puts the cost of full recovery and reconstruction at about $71.4 billion over the next decade.
Those figures broadly match the final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment released by the United Nations, World Bank and European Union in April. The assessment estimated $35.2 billion in physical damage and $71.4 billion in recovery and reconstruction needs, including $26.3 billion required during the first 18 months.
The broader plan is not limited to emergency relief. It includes proposals for a digital identification system, digital payments, 4G connectivity, electronic health and education systems, grants to restart small businesses and a new Gaza investment fund. The Board of Peace and Palestinian technocratic government say recovery should be Palestinian-led and based on “Palestinian ownership”.
However, the Board of Peace and Palestinian government have not yet secured the entire $2.45 billion. Officials say the full amount does not need to be available immediately and expect donor countries to contribute once political obstacles are cleared. Representatives from 35 countries are expected at Wednesday’s briefing, including officials from the European Union and member states that are not part of the Board.
Israel, Hamas cooperation remains crucial
Implementation could depend heavily on cooperation between Israel and Hamas.
The Netanyahu government has agreed in principle to elements of the plan discussed previously but has refused to begin implementation, with domestic political considerations ahead of the elections cited as a reason. Hamas has also agreed in principle to disarm, although that commitment has yet to be tested. According to the report, Israel has not agreed to implement a 14-day ceasefire before the demilitarisation process begins.
The Board of Peace hopes the reconstruction programme can begin after Israel’s October 27 elections and the formation of a new government. However, the Axios report said the election may produce a caretaker government and political deadlock, potentially complicating implementation.
The development comes amid continuing concerns over the security situation in Gaza. The source article says a ceasefire has been in place for nearly a year, but more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since it took effect, while Israeli forces have continued carrying out airstrikes and opening fire near military-held areas.
The proposed recovery programme therefore faces both a substantial funding requirement and unresolved political and security questions before its reconstruction plans can be implemented.