Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is planning a pilot humanitarian zone in Gaza to revive a stalled peace plan, according to a board official. The voluntary project aims to provide secure areas for tens of thousands of Gazans, regardless of whether a final deal is reached with Hamas.
The initiative comes as Gaza remains in ruins following two years of full-scale war that began with the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. While the broader U.S. peace plan has struggled to gain traction, the Board of Peace is moving forward with a targeted pilot zone to scale up goods and services for residents willing to relocate.
Trump’s original plan for Gaza provided for a surge in humanitarian aid, administration by a group of Palestinian technocrats, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and Hamas laying down its arms. However, the plan has stalled, and the population of more than 2 million people in the territory continues to face displacement, disease, and hunger.
NCAG Authority and the International Stabilization Force
The pilot zone is designed to serve as a practical application of the Trump administration’s governance vision for the enclave. A board official told Reuters that the plan would allow the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) to exercise its authority on the ground.
To maintain order, the plan relies on a two-tiered security approach: a newly recruited and trained police force acting as the primary law enforcement arm, supported by an International Stabilization Force (ISF) consisting of multinational peacekeeping troops.
This structure attempts to solve a critical deadlock. The NCAG—a group of Palestinian technocrats—has remained outside Gaza as the peace plan stalled. By creating a controlled pilot zone, the Board of Peace can establish a footprint for these administrators without requiring a comprehensive, territory-wide agreement first.
Vetting Processes and Voluntary Participation
Participation in the humanitarian zone will not be mandatory. According to the board official, the scheme is entirely voluntary, though it will involve a strict vetting process. This vetting will be conducted by the NCAG with support from the ISF, and the board noted that land ownership rights would be taken into consideration.
The official did not provide specific details on the vetting mechanism or a definitive timeframe for the launch, stating only that the intention is to move fast
. Funding for the project will be raised specifically for the pilot.
This vetting requirement creates a potential friction point with international humanitarian standards. Humanitarians argue that aid should be allocated based on need and without discrimination, whereas the Board of Peace is implementing a screened entry system for its secure areas.
Hamas Dissolution and the Israeli Response
The announcement follows a significant political shift on Monday, when Hamas announced it had dissolved its de facto government in Gaza. The group signaled a readiness to hand over power to the NCAG, while simultaneously urging Israel to honor other components of the stalled peace plan.
- Israel: Authorities described the dissolution of the Hamas government as a
stunt
. - Board of Peace:
The board acknowledged the move in a statement but emphasized that their assessment would be guided by actions rather than promises to meet the critical needs of the people of Gaza.
This disconnect highlights the fragility of the current diplomatic effort. While Hamas suggests a willingness to exit governance, Israel continues military operations and has stated it intends to expand its area of control to 70% of the enclave.
Diplomatic efforts to implement the second phase of Trump’s Gaza plan have continued through talks involving Board of Peace Gaza envoy Nickolay Mladenov, Hamas leaders, and mediators from Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt. Sources close to the talks say an agreement has yet to be reached.
The stakes for the pilot zone are high. Previous attempts at organized aid, such as the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, were shut down following the ceasefire after facing criticism from the U.N. regarding Palestinian deaths at distribution points. If the Board of Peace can successfully integrate the NCAG and the ISF within a vetted zone, it may provide the blueprint for the larger, stalled peace plan’s second phase.
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