Eurasia Press & News
The plan for casinos and concentration camps in Gaza is underway, as the inaugural meeting sees the pledging of money and troops
The inaugural meeting of the Gaza “Board of Peace” this week revelled in its own success at erasing Palestinians and creating a dystopian nightmare.
Donald Trump, chair of the Board, declared it will “ensure the brighter future of Gaza, the Middle East and the entire world”.
He was determined to prove the “peace” in the Board’s name. Listing the eight wars he’s supposedly ended, he praised the “strong leaders, tough leaders” who have joined him in the colonial conquest of Gaza.
“We have peace in the Middle East right now—they said it couldn’t be done,” he declared.
But in the next breath Trump threatened war with Iran. “They cannot continue to threaten the stability of the entire region,” he said, adding that if it doesn’t agree to a deal “bad things will happen”.
“The war on Gaza is over. There are little flames,” he added. Just the day before the meeting, Israel murdered two Palestinians in Gaza.
Trump’s advisor and son in law Jared Kushner spelled out a plan for concentration camps and casinos in Gaza in January.
At the inaugural Board of Peace meeting on Thursday, Executive Board members reiterated its real motivations—prising Gaza open for plunder.
War criminal Tony Blair praised the “vast” potential of the Gaza Strip with “25 miles of coastline, proximity to vast markets and a young, dynamic population”. He said he wanted a Gaza where you “can rise by your own efforts and feel the government by your side, not on your back”.
Similarly, United States vice president JD Vance praised the “incredible prosperity” the Board was bringing to the “American people”.
There was endless talk of liberalising the economy and free market “solutions”. One contribution even spoke of the creation of an “Amazon-like logistics system” to help Palestinians launch businesses.
Such contributions fly in the face of the realities in Gaza.
Dr Ali Shaath spoke as head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which will run the day-to-day operations under the control of the Executive Board.
Shaath is a former Palestinian Authority (PA) deputy minister. His appointment is designed to give a veneer of Palestinian participation. The PA was set up as part of the sham “peace process” in the 1990s and helps Israel police the occupation of the West Bank.
Sickeningly, Shaath concluded by saying “bless the peacemaker” Trump.
He outlined four priorities.
The first was “restoring security”, which revolves around the International Stabilization Force (ISF).
The overall aim is for the ISF to involve 12,000 police and 20,000 soldiers, stationed at a huge, heavily fortified military base in southern Gaza.
Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania will provide troops to the ISF, while Jordan and Egypt have committed to training them.
This is a force of Western occupation in all but name—and it will work hand in glove with Israel.
The other priorities were “reviving economic activities”, “ensuring sustainable emergency relief” and “restoring basic services”.
There were constant, insidious self-congratulatory remarks about the US-led humanitarian effort.
US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said, “Humanitarian aid has absolutely surged since the Gaza war ended.”
He referenced the 4,200 aid trucks that have entered Gaza in the past 18 weeks. That amounts to just 34 aid trucks a day—far below the 600 that were entering under the directive of the United Nations.
A “New Dawn for Gaza” video then played, which began, “The war Hamas began has left Gaza in ruins.”
With AI images of beaches and shining buildings, it talked of installing a “curriculum which promotes tolerance, dignity and peace”. “From these ruins, a new future will rise,” it claims.
As representatives of the member countries spoke, there was not a single mention of Israel’s horrific crimes in Palestine. Turkey’s representative did say that violations of the ceasefire last year “continue to occur”, and voiced support for the sham “two-state solution”.
Pakistan’s representative also said that “ceasefire violations must end”, adding that the “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination”—which is mentioned in Trump’s 20 point plan—must be upheld.
Apart from that, there was praise for the Abraham Accords which are designed to isolate the Palestinians.
But there was not a word of why they were there—Israel’s genocide.
There are notable absences from the Board of Peace meeting. Britain refused to join on the basis that Russia has been invited to join. Germany and Italy cited constitutional reasons. And Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, said the Board was trying to usurp the powers of the UN.
Hungary, led by far right Viktor Orban, is the only EU state currently signed up to the Board.
But the most disturbing inclusion on the Board is Israel. At the meeting, Israel’s foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa’ar said it was a project to help Israel “against pure evil”.
He said the Board’s plan will “address the root of the problem”. It will lead to the “disarmament of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, demilitarisation of Gaza Strip and deradicalisation of Palestinian society there”.
Just days before Israel’s prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu accepted the invitation, he said the Board runs “contrary” to Israel’s policy. He’s also stated that the inclusion of Qatar and Turkey on the board is a red line.
But by joining the board, Netanyahu hopes to bargain with the US to strengthen Israel’s regional position.
The Board’s entire project, as it states itself, depends on the disarmament of Palestinian national liberation organisation Hamas. But why should the Palestinians disarm when the occupier and aggressor does not?
A protest outside the meeting held banners stating, “Palestine is not for sale.”
The Board of Peace has built an international network to profit on the graves of Palestinians.
