US-Led Gaza Peace Board Unveils 2.4 Billion Dollar Reconstruction Plan Amid Ongoing Israeli Strikes
Photo: Collected
The United States-led Board of Peace has announced a 2.4 billion dollar reconstruction plan for war-torn Gaza, even as ongoing Israeli strikes across the enclave killed at least seven people on Wednesday.
The announcement came as members of the Gaza peace board convened for separate meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly's 81st annual session at UN Headquarters in New York. During Wednesday's sessions, the oversight body tasked with managing the ceasefire and reconstruction in Gaza unveiled a blueprint encompassing 66 distinct projects.
According to the plan, overcoming the extensive destruction caused by Israeli military operations will require approximately 35 billion dollars in the medium term. An additional 71.4 billion dollars could be necessary over the following decade.
Nickolay Mladenov, a high-level representative for the peace board, stated that the execution of this reconstruction plan hinges entirely on the disarmament of Hamas, the Palestinian armed group.
In July, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups agreed to a disarmament plan for Gaza, which United States President Donald Trump hailed as a landmark step toward peace and security. Addressing the timeline, Mladenov noted that officials are not bound by a strict deadline and want to ensure the initiative is implemented effectively.
Reporting from a peace board press conference in New York, Al Jazeera journalist Kristen Saloomy noted that tangible progress on the ground in the Gaza Strip remains minimal, with experts during the meetings warning of significant impending challenges.
The peace board was established last year through a United Nations Security Council resolution, with its primary objective being the implementation of US President Donald Trump's declared peace plan for Gaza. The board itself was reportedly formed under Trump's initiative.
Despite the nominal ceasefire, Israel has yet to fully implement its commitments to withdraw troops from Gaza, leaving reconstruction efforts currently stalled.
Meanwhile, violence persisted in the enclave. In the southern city of Khan Younis, an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle killed two people on Wednesday. Local medical personnel identified the victims as Osama Abu Khater and Mohammad Abu Elwan.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the drone strike successfully eliminated a senior Hamas financial official.
In the central Gaza area of Deir al-Balah, a separate Israeli strike on a vehicle left at least two Palestinians dead, while another attack in Gaza City claimed at least one more life. Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera correspondent Ibrahim Al Khalili said the latest Israeli attacks have caused conditions in the territory to deteriorate further.
