Israel yet to allow Board of Peace first construction contract in Gaza - report

“Israel won’t open the border,” said a source familiar with the matter, adding that contractors and trucks have been prevented from entering Gaza to begin construction.

Israel has yet to allow the construction of a military outpost for international troops in the Gaza Strip, The Guardian reported on Wednesday, citing a source familiar with the matter.

The outpost was the subject of the first construction contract issued in Gaza by US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace in August 2026. However, two months later, the source said Israel has yet to allow the project to move forward.

“Israel won’t open the border,” the source said, adding that contractors and trucks have been prevented from entering Gaza to begin construction.

Arkel International, a Louisiana-based company, is expected to build the outpost, which would measure approximately 100 meters by 100 meters, at a site previously used by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation project, The Guardian reported.

The base would accommodate approximately 150 international troops drawn from a larger group of 500 soldiers already deployed from Morocco and Kosovo, according to the source.

Board of Peace plans can't continue without initial outpost built 

However, the source said the Board of Peace's larger plans cannot proceed without the initial construction project.

“You can’t get in without an International Stabilization Force (ISF). You can’t rebuild,” the source said, as quoted by The Guardian. “There’s no security. There’s no deliveries of construction equipment. You can’t even start putting utilities. You can’t start putting in basic life-support facilities, you know, because without the ISF you can’t go in.”

Despite the delays, the source said the Board of Peace believes the Israeli government will allow construction to proceed after the October 27 Israeli elections.