Board of Peace issues first construction contract for Moroccan security force base in Gaza - report

The Board of Peace, a US initiative led by President Donald Trump, has issued its first construction contract in the Gaza Strip for a military outpost for Moroccan soldiers. The 150-person base, planned to be 100 by 120 meters, will be located about one mile from the Israeli border in an area of Gaza controlled by Israel, with a quick extraction route. The contract was awarded to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based company. A Board of Peace official said contracts are in final stages but none finalized.

The Board of Peace, a US initiative led by President Donald Trump, has issued its first construction contract in the Gaza Strip, according to a report by The Guardian on Thursday. The contract is for a military outpost for Moroccan soldiers, who would rotate in from a base in Israel. The outpost is planned to accommodate 150 personnel and will be 100 by 120 meters in area. It will be located approximately one mile from the Israeli border, within the area of Gaza's territory that Israel controls, and will have a 'quick extraction route' for the forces stationed there. The contract was awarded to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based company with prior experience working for the US government in the Middle East. Earlier contract plans indicated that this base is an initial phase for a larger, 5,000-person military base in Gaza. The first phase would consist of 'tents and cots for forces to sleep, as well as chemical toilets and handwashing stations.' A Board of Peace official told The Guardian that the Board and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza are in the final stages of preparing several contract awards, but none have been finalized. The official added that one prospective contract concerns facilities to support the international stabilization force (ISF), which will assist in implementing the roadmap's security and governance arrangements.