Trump administration's $2.45 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza

The Peace Board, led by US President Donald Trump, prepared a comprehensive plan for the post-war reconstruction of Gaza.

According to the plan obtained by Axios, spending of $2.45 billion is expected for the six-month period. Covering a total of 66 projects, the plan focuses on areas such as temporary shelter, debris removal, repair of hospitals, economic recovery and deployment of multinational security forces.

The implementation of the Trump administration's Gaza plan is based on the goals of disarming Hamas and transferring the administration to a new structure consisting of Palestinian technocrats.

Hamas reached an agreement in principle on disarmament in July, but disagreements with Israel regarding the implementation of the process continue.

THE BIGGEST SHARE WILL BE ALLOCATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE

Approximately 1 billion dollars of the plan was allocated to infrastructure works. It is envisaged that $400 million of this will be spent on insulated temporary housing for Palestinians living in tents, and $275 million will be spent on cleaning debris and unexploded ordnance.

It is planned to allocate $50 million to repair hospitals and $30 million to renew the heavily damaged road network.

The projects include re-establishing electricity and water infrastructure, repairing border gates and sending 25 thousand portable solar energy systems to Gaza.

MULTINATIONAL SECURITY FORCE TO GAZA

Another large portion of the plan, approximately $885 million, is devoted to security.

Approximately 275 million dollars are expected to be spent for the establishment of the International Stabilization Force base in Rafah, which can accommodate 5 thousand personnel, and 140 million dollars for the training and deployment of the multinational force.

$120 million is allocated for the creation of a new Palestinian police force, while $20 million is envisaged for a program to encourage members of Hamas and other armed groups to surrender their weapons.

According to the plan previously announced by the Trump administration, the international force will also help train the new Palestinian police and collect weapons.

FROM TENTS TO TEMPORARY HOUSING

One of the plan's priorities is the removal of displaced Palestinians from tents.

In this context, while approximately 400 million dollars are allocated for temporary housing, it is planned to finance a separate settlement project that can accommodate 50 thousand people in the Rafah region of the United Arab Emirates.

Approximately 300 million dollars are expected to be allocated to health, education and social assistance programs.

DIGITAL IDENTITY AND ECONOMY REVIVAL PLAN

The plan is not limited to emergency humanitarian aid and physical reconstruction. It is also aimed to establish the infrastructure of a new functioning Palestinian administration in Gaza and to reactivate the private sector.

In this context, it is planned to launch a digital identity system, digital payment infrastructure, 4G connection, electronic health and education systems and grants for small businesses. It is also planned to establish a new Gaza investment fund.

RECONSTRUCTION OF GAZA COULD EXCEED 71 BILLION DOLLARS

While the plan estimates the physical damage in Gaza to be 35.2 billion dollars, it is calculated that the full recovery and reconstruction of the region could cost approximately 71.4 billion dollars in the next 10 years.

However, the financing of the first package of $ 2.45 billion has not yet been fully provided. Peace Board officials think that new resources can be provided from donor countries by overcoming political obstacles and starting projects.

At the previous Peace Board meeting, billions of dollars of commitments for the reconstruction of Gaza were announced, and it was stated that the progress of the process depended on the disarmament of Hamas and Israel's cooperation.