The US-established Board of Peace has awarded a preliminary contract to Louisiana-based Arkel International for the construction of a military outpost in Gaza intended to house 150 Moroccan troops as part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), according to The Guardian.
The US-established Board of Peace has awarded a preliminary construction contract to Louisiana-based Arkel International for a military outpost in Gaza intended to house 150 Moroccan troops as part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), according to a report in The Guardian on Friday. The Guardian cited unnamed sources familiar with the process.
The development follows the publication of the contract by the Gaza Peace Council on Thursday, August 6, at 16:06 Jerusalem, as The Zioneer reported. Later that day, additional details emerged indicating that the outpost's design includes a rapid evacuation route for the 150-soldier force in the event of an attack. The preliminary contract award now identifies Arkel International, a firm with prior experience on US government projects in Iraq, as the contractor.
The ISF is a central component of the Trump administration's postwar plan for Gaza. As The Zioneer reported on Friday, July 31, Hamas agreed to a comprehensive disarmament plan under the Board of Peace framework, with the ISF to oversee weapons collection and security. The deployment of foreign troops, including Moroccan forces, is contingent on legal immunity arrangements approved by Israel's Security Cabinet. The Board has also planned the establishment of "Hamas-free" humanitarian zones in the Rafah area, as reported in July.
The timeline for construction of the outpost and the deployment of Moroccan forces remains unconfirmed. The Guardian's report relies on unnamed sources, and the contract is described as preliminary, leaving further details regarding funding, construction schedule, and operational handover unclear.
3 developments
- StrongBoard of Peace announces Morocco formally joins international stabilization force for Gaza
- StrongMoroccan officers tour Gaza area for multinational force training under Trump plan
- StrongBoard of Peace says Kosovo soldier contingent arrived in Israel for Gaza stabilisation force
- DevelopingIsrael signs legal agreement with International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza operations
Source and signal
- Open-source intake