As reported by The Guardian, contracting records reviewed by the outlet show the Trump administration is planning to build a 5,000-person military base in southern Gaza as the headquarters of a future International Stabilization Force, or ISF. According to The Guardian, the proposed base would cover more than 350 acres and serve as the main operating hub for a multinational force tasked with security and governance functions in the territory. The planned ISF is described as operating under a newly created body known as the Board of Peace, which was approved by the UN Security Council and is chaired by US President Donald Trump, with a leading role played by his son‑in‑law Jared Kushner.
According to Caliber.az, which also cites the contracting documents, the base is envisioned in southern Gaza on an arid stretch of flatland and would be built in phases to reach dimensions of roughly 1,400 meters by 1,100 meters. The compound would be surrounded by barbed wire and include 26 trailer‑mounted armored watchtowers, bunkers, a small‑arms firing range, and warehouses for military equipment. The New Arab reports that overall plans for the ISF envisage a force of about 20,000 soldiers in Gaza, who would also be involved in training a new Palestinian police force.
According to reporting cited by Democracy Now!, the Board of Peace‑linked documents indicate the Gaza base would be the central headquarters for the ISF, which is expected to include troops pledged by multiple countries. The New Arab notes that the Board of Peace and the ISF derive their mandate from a UN Security Council decision that outlines objectives such as securing Gaza’s borders, maintaining internal peace, protecting civilians and assisting in police training. However, media reports say the precise rules of engagement for the force, including how it would respond if large‑scale conflict resumes or whether it would be tasked with disarming Hamas, remain unclear.
Context and reactions: how is the plan being received?
As reported by The Guardian and summarized by outlets including Caliber.az and Common Dreams, international construction firms with experience working in conflict zones have already visited the proposed site, indicating that preparatory steps have begun, though no final construction timeline has been publicly confirmed. Some contractors quoted in The Guardian’s account described opaque funding and oversight arrangements, including discussions allegedly conducted over encrypted messaging apps rather than through standard government channels. According to these reports, the base documentation was issued by the Board of Peace with assistance from US contracting officials, but questions remain about which entities will ultimately finance and control the project.
The New Arab reports that the UN‑approved Board of Peace is intended to oversee both governance and security in Gaza after the current phase of war, with the ISF as its enforcement arm. At the same time, rights advocates and analysts cited by Common Dreams and other outlets have raised concerns about the legal implications of building a large foreign‑run military facility in occupied territory, particularly while much of southern Gaza remains under Israeli control and while most of the population is displaced. The Guardian’s reporting notes that a Palestinian‑Canadian lawyer and former peace negotiator, Diana Buttu, questioned the legality of the project, pointing to unresolved issues of land ownership and international humanitarian law.
According to The New Arab and other regional outlets, critics also warn that a permanent or semi‑permanent foreign base could entrench external control over Gaza’s security and politics. Commentators cited in these reports argue that such a deployment, even under a UN‑backed framework, risks inflaming tensions if local consent is weak or if the force is perceived as favoring one side. Supporters of the plan, referenced in coverage by The New Arab and Times of India’s reporting on the leaked blueprints, frame the ISF and its Gaza headquarters as necessary to stabilize the enclave, protect civilians and support reconstruction after prolonged conflict.
Supporting details and structural features of the proposed base
According to the contracting records described by The Guardian and summarized by Caliber.az, the planned Gaza base would include a network of reinforced bunkers measuring about 6 meters by 4 meters and 2.5 meters high, each equipped with ventilation systems. The documents reportedly instruct contractors to carry out geophysical surveys to locate “subterranean voids, tunnels, or large cavities,” a requirement observers link to long‑standing concerns over tunnel networks used by armed groups in Gaza. Additional specifications cited in media reports describe storage facilities for ammunition and equipment, internal roadways and designated areas for helicopter landing and logistics support.
The New Arab notes that the base is designed to house 5,000 personnel on site, but that the total ISF deployment in Gaza is projected at about 20,000 soldiers who would rotate through or operate in the wider territory. According to Democracy Now!’s summary of The Guardian’s investigation, the blueprints suggest a heavily fortified installation intended to be self‑sufficient in security and operations, with armored watchtowers and hardened infrastructure. Times of India’s coverage of the same documents describes the envisioned facility as one of the largest US‑linked military operations in the region, highlighting its scale and potential strategic significance.
Caliber.az and other outlets state that the base plan is closely tied to the broader architecture of the Board of Peace, which combines political oversight mechanisms with the ISF’s security role. According to The New Arab, the force’s mandate, as described in UN documentation and secondary reporting, includes securing border crossings, maintaining ceasefire arrangements, safeguarding humanitarian corridors, and assisting in vetting and training Palestinian police units. However, media reports agree that many operational details, including how the base would coordinate with Israeli forces and Palestinian authorities, have not been publicly specified.
Implications and future developments: what could happen next?
According to The New Arab and Common Dreams, the creation of a large ISF headquarters in Gaza could significantly reshape the security landscape, effectively embedding a multinational force with a long‑term footprint in the enclave. Analysts and advocates cited in these reports say the plan raises questions about Gaza’s future governance, including how much authority will rest with the Board of Peace, Israel, and Palestinian institutions. They also note that without clear rules of engagement and local political buy‑in, the presence of a foreign‑backed force could face resistance from armed groups and segments of the population.
The New Arab reports that the Board of Peace and ISF structure is tied to a UN‑endorsed framework, suggesting that further Security Council deliberations or clarifications may be needed as planning advances. Democracy Now!’s summary of The Guardian’s reporting indicates that the project remains at the planning and contracting stage, with no public confirmation of a start date for construction. Future developments are likely to depend on the evolution of the Gaza conflict, the stance of key regional actors, and whether participating states finalize their troop contributions to the ISF.
According to coverage collated by outlets such as Caliber.az, The New Arab and Common Dreams, debates over the legality, legitimacy and strategic wisdom of the proposed base are expected to continue at the UN and among regional governments. Observers note that any move to break ground on a 5,000‑person military installation in southern Gaza would be closely watched internationally, especially given the territory’s civilian displacement and ongoing humanitarian crisis.
In sum, available reporting indicates that the Trump administration, working through the UN‑backed Board of Peace, is advancing plans for a 5,000‑person military base in southern Gaza that would serve as the headquarters of an International Stabilization Force, though key operational, legal and political details remain unresolved and subject to international scrutiny.
