According to NDTV, a United States–based disaster response company, Gothams LLC, has submitted a proposal to the White House offering to manage aid and supply deliveries into Gaza under President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. As reported by NDTV, the proposal, outlined in documents reviewed by The Guardian, would guarantee the company returns of at least 300 percent on its investment.
NDTV reports that the plan, called the Gaza Supply System (GSS), seeks exclusive control over Gaza’s logistics network for seven years, with an option to extend that exclusivity for an additional three years. According to NDTV, the proposal positions Gothams to run warehousing and distribution for aid entering Gaza during the reconstruction phase linked to Trump’s Gaza peace plan.
As reported by NDTV, Gothams partner Chris Vanek has been in regular contact with White House officials in recent weeks regarding the proposed system. NDTV notes that the financial stakes around reconstruction are substantial, citing United Nations estimates that rebuilding Gaza will cost more than 70 billion dollars and that about 83 percent of the territory’s buildings have been destroyed, with the entire population displaced.
According to NDTV, Trump, who chairs the Board of Peace, has previously described Gaza as having the potential to become “the Riviera of the Middle East.” NDTV reports that in January he appointed his son‑in‑law Jared Kushner and other allies to lead the Board, which includes participation from several countries.
What reactions and concerns has the proposal triggered?
According to NDTV, documents reviewed by The Guardian show Gothams’ Gaza Supply System would grant the firm a dominant position over trucking, storage and distribution for aid entering Gaza, fueling concern among experts and observers about profiteering from humanitarian operations. NDTV reports that the guarantee of at least 300 percent profit has drawn particular scrutiny, given the scale of Gaza’s destruction and humanitarian need.
Democracy Now! reports that the proposal would give Gothams a monopoly over Gaza trucking and logistics, with the company charging for the use of its warehousing and distribution system as aid flows into the enclave. According to Democracy Now!, one expert who examined the arrangement compared it to “highway robbery,” arguing that the projected returns were extraordinary for a conflict-zone contract.
NDTV notes that Gothams has faced criticism in the past over its role in U.S. government contracts, including work at the “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant camp in South Florida, which drew allegations of human rights violations. According to NDTV, these previous controversies have contributed to questions about the firm’s suitability to manage a central component of Gaza’s reconstruction logistics.
Supporting details and company response
As reported by NDTV, Gothams spokespersons provided a written statement from Chris Vanek responding to questions about the proposal. According to NDTV, Vanek said, “The Board of Peace, Palestinian and Israeli stakeholders, and the US Department of State asked me to assist with planning efforts based on my extensive experience in conflict zones, reconstruction, and disaster response.”
NDTV reports that Vanek stated there is currently “no existing agreement or contract” and that he has provided assistance “at my own expense in support of peace efforts.” According to NDTV, the spokesperson later added that Vanek “has not had any discussions regarding financing, investment, or returns, and any suggestion otherwise would be inaccurate.”
Ground News, summarizing Common Dreams reporting, notes that the proposal has reportedly been halted, but the underlying documents still reveal how investors could have received at least 300 percent profit from running Gaza’s aid logistics. According to that reporting, the structure of the deal, rather than a formalized contract, has raised alarm among analysts who study private contracting in war zones.
NDTV adds that Trump’s 20‑point Gaza plan, announced in September, calls for a truce, Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal and international oversight of reconstruction, with aid flows expected to increase as security arrangements take hold. According to NDTV, ongoing Israeli control over more than half of Gaza and limited aid access have made any prospective logistics monopoly particularly consequential for civilians.
What are the implications and possible next steps?
According to NDTV, the Gothams proposal illustrates how reconstruction tied to Trump’s Board of Peace could create large profit opportunities for private firms if exclusive contracts or de facto monopolies are granted. NDTV reports that with the United Nations estimating rebuilding costs above 70 billion dollars, any long‑term logistics operator in Gaza stands to benefit from sustained aid and construction flows.
Democracy Now! notes that the controversy around the proposed 300 percent returns has intensified broader criticism that Trump’s Gaza plan and the Board of Peace may open the door to significant commercial gains for select companies and investors, rather than prioritizing humanitarian relief. According to Ground News’ summary of Common Dreams, the revelation of the proposal has fueled calls for stronger oversight of how Gaza-related contracts are designed and awarded.
NDTV reports that while the ceasefire linked to Trump’s plan formally took effect on October 10, Israeli airstrikes have continued and Israeli forces still control more than half of Gaza. According to NDTV, aid agencies say supplies are not entering at agreed levels, a claim Israel disputes, and any future logistics arrangement under the Board of Peace would directly affect how and when assistance reaches displaced residents.
As reported by NDTV, the second phase of Trump’s plan, launched after the New Year, conditions a full Israeli military withdrawal on Hamas giving up its weapons and Gaza becoming demilitarized. According to NDTV, the role that private firms such as Gothams may play in subsequent reconstruction phases remains uncertain, with no confirmed contract in place but with significant attention now focused on the financial terms of any future deals.
According to NDTV, Trump’s leadership of the Board of Peace and his earlier comments envisioning Gaza as a potential “Riviera of the Middle East” underscore the economic dimension of reconstruction alongside stated peace and security goals. NDTV reports that scrutiny of proposals like Gothams’ is likely to continue as governments, international organizations and private companies negotiate the structures through which Gaza’s rebuilding will be managed and financed.
