According to an exclusive report by the British newspaper 'The Guardian', which cites contracting documents, officials linked to Donald Trump are promoting the construction of a military base with capacity for 5,000 people in southern Gaza. The information comes at a time when the US president is leading the first meeting of his so-called "Peace Board" for the enclave, which receives praise from his allies, but also criticism from countries concerned about the possible weakening of the United Nations.

First modification: 02/19/2026 - 15:36 Last modification: 02/19/2026 - 15:54

A military base for 5,000 people and covering more than 140 hectares marks one of Donald Trump's plans in the Gaza Strip.

This is stated in contracting documents, reviewed by the British newspaper 'The Guardian'. The complex is conceived as an operations center for a future International Stabilization Force (ISF), a multinational contingent destined to operate in the Palestinian enclave.

According to the records, the initiative is part of the newly created "Peace Board", an organization that, although authorized by the UN Security Council, would be chaired by Trump and directed in part by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. More than 20 countries have signed up as members, although several European allies have chosen not to participate in their inaugural meeting in Washington this Thursday, February 19.

How will the military base in Gaza be built?

The plans call for the gradual construction of a 1,400-by-1,100-meter facility, surrounded by 26 armored surveillance towers mounted on trailers, a barbed wire perimeter, underground bunkers, a shooting range for small arms, and warehouses for military equipment.

Each bunker would have approximate dimensions of six by four meters and 2.5 meters high, with reinforced ventilation systems.

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The contract document also establishes that the successful bidder must carry out geophysical studies to detect “underground voids, tunnels or large cavities,” a provision that appears to allude to the extensive network of tunnels attributed to Hamas. Likewise, it includes a "Human Remains Protocol", which orders the immediate cessation of works in the event of the discovery of remains or cultural artifacts, in a territory where, according to local authorities, thousands of bodies remain under the rubble after months of bombings.

The base would be located in an arid strip of southern Gaza, currently under Israeli control and devastated by years of conflict. The United Nations estimates that at least 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced since the start of the war.

What are the operational doubts?

The Security Council authorized the so-called 'Peace Board' to deploy a temporary force to secure the Gaza border, maintain peace, protect the civilian population and train “verified” Palestinian police forces.

However, the rules of engagement of the future International Stabilization Force (ISF) in the event of new Israeli bombings or Hamas attacks have not been made public, nor is it clear what role it would have in the eventual disarmament of the Islamist group, a condition demanded by Israel to advance reconstruction.

According to the documents, the Indonesian Government would have offered up to 8,000 soldiers to integrate the multinational force. The Indonesian president was among the leaders invited to the inaugural session of the "Peace Board" in Washington.

Governance under question?

International law experts have expressed doubts about the legal nature and governance structure of the new body. Some maintain that, despite having the endorsement of the UN, its statutes grant Trump permanent leadership. “It is a legal fiction with its own legal personality on paper, but in practice it can operate as an instrument of the United States,” said Adil Haque, professor at Rutgers University, quoted by 'The Guardian'.

Contractors consulted by the British newspaper stated that communications with US officials have sometimes been made through the Signal application instead of official channels. The bidding document would have been issued by the "Peace Board" with the support of US contracting officials.

From the United States Central Command they sent the queries to the new organization. A Trump Administration official avoided commenting on the contract: "As the president has said, there will be no American troops on the ground. We are not going to comment on leaked documents."

The ownership of the land where the base is planned has not been publicly clarified. Diana Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer and former negotiator, described the initiative as an act of occupation if it is carried out without the consent of the Palestinian authorities. “Who authorized the construction of a military base in Palestinian territory?” he questioned.

Meanwhile, the proposal adds a new element of tension to a territory exhausted by war and to a diplomatic scenario marked by uncertainty about the political and security future of Gaza.

What is the "Peace Board"?

Trump first proposed the board in September 2025, when he announced his plan to end Israel's attacks on Gaza. He later clarified that the junta's mandate would expand beyond Gaza to address other conflicts around the world, under Trump. Traditionally, these initiatives have been the responsibility of the United Nations.

Member states would have a term limited to three years unless each contributed $1 billion to fund the board's activities and gain permanent membership, according to its charter.

Last January, the White House named US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner as members of the initiative's founding Executive Board.

Which countries have joined the "Peace Board"?

The organization's official account on the X platform has included more than two dozen countries as founding members of the initiative, including Washington's main allies in the Middle East.

These include Israel and Saudi Arabia, along with Egypt and Qatar, which helped mediate ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. Other countries in the region include Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates.

Read alsoTrump's 'Peace Board' debuts amid ideological support and international misgivings

What countries have not joined the "Junta"?

Among the nations that have not joined the "Junta" are Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, El Salvador, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Washington's key Western allies as well as major powers in the Global South such as Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa have also not accepted the offer to join.

Likewise, the leaders of the United Kingdom, the European Union, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden declined to join that body.

Trump withdrew an invitation to Canada last January after taking issue with Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech in Davos.

Separately, Brazil and Mexico have declared that they will not join the initiative, citing the absence of Palestine on the Board. The Vatican has also not agreed, arguing that initiatives to manage crisis situations should be carried out by the United Nations.

China and Russia, both veto-wielding members of the United Nations Security Council, are among the powers that have also refused.

With Reuters and local media

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