Trump’s Board of Peace drops full Gaza recovery plan in favour of tiny pilot scheme

What Happened

The Board of Peace (BoP), the Trump administration-led body overseeing Gaza recovery, has dramatically scaled back its reconstruction plan. An initial ambitious blueprint for the entire territory has been replaced by a pilot project near Rafah—a temporary camp for a fraction of Gaza’s displaced population, to be secured by a small International Stabilization Force (ISF) with Moroccan and Kosovar officers already in Israel and a vetted Palestinian police. Preparatory work on the camp and its support base has not begun, and progress is unlikely before Israeli elections on 27 October. The plan has stalled amid Israel’s routine ceasefire violations, its expansion of direct occupation to over 60% of Gaza, and severe restrictions on aid. Diplomatic efforts continue, including Cairo talks on Hamas disarmament and BoP pressure on Israel to ease dual-use item bans, but the Israeli government has not approved any requests. Some Western diplomats see the pilot as a fragile holding action against more extreme Israeli factions advocating population transfer and colonization.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The shrinking of the Gaza recovery plan exposes the deep constraints on post-conflict reconstruction under ongoing hostilities, Israeli political dynamics, and a ceasefire that exists largely on paper. The pilot scheme’s fragility underscores the limited leverage of international mediators and the looming threat of a full-scale Israeli offensive before October elections, which could erase even minimal gains. The episode also highlights the tension between incremental diplomatic efforts and more radical Israeli proposals for permanent population transfer, making the BoP’s modest project a critical, if precarious, counterweight.

Watch For

Israeli elections on 27 October, which could bring down Netanyahu’s coalition and alter Gaza policy. A potential new Israeli offensive ahead of the vote, with increased strikes and ground operations, that could derail the pilot plan. Progress on the camp construction near Rafah and the ISF support base at Kerem Shalom. Outcomes of ongoing Cairo negotiations on Hamas disarmament and weapons storage. Israeli decisions on BoP requests to ease dual-use aid restrictions and approve entry of the ISF and vetted Palestinian police into Gaza.