Trump Gaza board gives deal to US co

Base Plan | Louisiana firm picked to build 150-person outpost for Moroccan troops

Donald Trump’s Board of Peace has awarded its first Gaza construction contract, selecting a Louisiana firm to build a rudimentary military base for Moroccan troops, a source familiar with the matter said.

The contract, which has not been finalised, went to Arkel International, which has previously worked for the US government in countries including Iraq. The board, established in January to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, is chaired by Trump and includes his son-in-law Jared Kushner and friend Steve Witkoff. A Board of Peace official said several contract awards were being prepared but none had been finalised.

The planned 100-metre by 120-metre base would accommodate 150 Moroccan troops rotating from Israel and lie in the 60% of Gaza directly controlled by the Israeli army, the source said.

Morocco has pledged a small contingent to an international stabilisation force authorised for Gaza, although its legal framework has yet to be finalised and no deployment date has been set.

8 nations accuse Israel of imperilling Gaza peace plan

The UAE and seven other Muslim-majority nations on Thursday accused Israel of jeopardising efforts to implement the next phase of the Gaza peace plan through continued military operations. The UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt said Israel’s actions breached international law and threatened to derail the political process and deepen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

Their joint statement followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Palestinian factions had accepted the roadmap, including provisions on weapons. The plan requires Hamas to begin surrendering its weapons while Israel halts military operations and gradually withdraws forces. Israel says withdrawal requires meaningful progress on Hamas disarmament.