Representatives from U.S. President Donald Trump's “Board of Peace” have engaged in talks with the Dubai-based multinational DP World to manage supply chains and infrastructure projects in Gaza, according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
Representatives of Donald Trump's Board of Peace held talks with DP World about managing supply chains in Gaza, focusing on logistics for humanitarian aid. The discussions included proposals for new ports and free-trade zones but faced criticism for potentially sidelining Palestinians. Meanwhile, Palestinian local elections were held in Deir al-Balah, offering a rare gauge of Hamas's popularity amid ongoing violence.
The discussions centered on a potential partnership between DP World and the Board of Peace to oversee logistics for humanitarian aid and other goods entering Gaza. The war-torn region requires extensive rehabilitation, with global institutions estimating the cost at around $70 billion due to two years of Israeli bombardment that has destroyed four-fifths of its buildings.
Other proposals included constructing a new port in Gaza or on the nearby Egyptian coast and developing a free-trade zone within the war-shattered strip. Critics argue these plans risk marginalizing Palestinians and bypassing international institutions like the United Nations, potentially legitimizing forced displacement.
Progress toward peace has stalled, with Israel continuing to occupy large parts of Gaza and aid access heavily restricted despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced last October. Since the ceasefire, Israeli attacks have killed over 700 people and injured about 2,000. The discussions are part of longstanding proposals by U.S. officials to privatize much of Gaza’s services and infrastructure as part of their plans for a “new Gaza.”
Meanwhile, Palestinians in Deir al-Balah voted in municipal elections on April 25, marking the first time Gazans have participated in such elections in two decades. The vote is seen as a rare barometer of Hamas's popularity and part of Palestinian Authority efforts to reinforce its claim to authority over Gaza.
In other developments, an Israeli air strike killed five Palestinians, including three children, in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Palestinian officials reported that a drone struck near Al-Qassam mosque in Beit Lahia. The Hamas-run health ministry stated that at least 786 Palestinians have been killed and 2,200 injured in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire came into force.
Israeli forces have been gradually moving an agreed truce line westward over the past six months, expanding their zone of control. The “yellow line” was intended to be temporary pending further withdrawals but has stalled amid disagreements over disarming Hamas and continued Israeli bombardment. Additionally, there have been intense settler attacks on villages near Ramallah, continued strikes on civilians in Gaza, new evictions, and demolitions in occupied East Jerusalem.
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