Trump Officials Plan to Build 5,000-Person Military Base in Gaza, Files Show

Internal planning documents reveal that officials linked to former U.S. president Donald Trump have explored the construction of a permanent American military base in Gaza Strip capable of housing up to 5,000 personnel, according to files reviewed by investigators and confirmed by multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The proposal, drafted as part of a broader post-conflict stabilization framework, outlines a heavily fortified installation designed to support security operations, humanitarian coordination, and regional deterrence. While the plan has not been formally announced, the existence of the documents underscores the extent to which U.S. officials have considered a long-term military footprint in Gaza following months of war and instability.
Strategic Objectives
According to the files, the base would serve several purposes: securing key transport corridors, monitoring militant activity, and acting as a hub for intelligence and logistics. Planners argue that a permanent presence would help prevent the re-emergence of armed groups and provide reassurance to regional allies concerned about renewed conflict.
The documents describe a facility with airfield access, missile-defense systems, medical units, and housing for rotating combat and support troops. Analysts say such a base would represent one of the most significant U.S. deployments in the Palestinian territories in modern history.
Officials involved in the planning process said the idea emerged from internal debates about how to guarantee security if Israel withdraws major combat formations while Gaza undergoes political and humanitarian reconstruction.
Political Sensitivities
The concept is deeply controversial. Palestinian leaders and human rights organizations warn that a foreign military base in Gaza could entrench occupation-style control and inflame tensions rather than stabilize the territory. Critics argue that any long-term solution must involve Palestinian governance and international oversight rather than unilateral military structures.
Regional governments have also reacted cautiously. Several Arab states have signaled privately that a U.S. base in Gaza could complicate fragile diplomatic efforts and risk drawing Washington deeper into a volatile conflict zone.
Supporters of the idea within Trump’s political circle contend that American leadership is necessary to prevent Gaza from becoming a security vacuum. They argue that U.S. forces could operate as a neutral stabilizing power while reconstruction efforts move forward.
Link to Trump’s “Peace Vision”
The proposal aligns with Trump’s broader rhetoric about enforcing peace through strength. During recent political speeches, Trump has suggested that American authority could rapidly impose order in conflict zones through decisive action rather than prolonged diplomacy.
Documents indicate that the base would be part of a larger security architecture involving coordination with Israel and selected regional partners. Israeli defense officials have not publicly commented on the plan, but sources say discussions included possible intelligence-sharing and joint operational zones.
Logistical and Legal Challenges
Building a base of this scale would require massive logistical investment. The files estimate billions of dollars in construction and security costs over the first five years, including hardened shelters, radar systems, and supply depots. Planners also note the challenge of maintaining supply lines into Gaza, an area with damaged infrastructure and restricted access routes.
Legal experts warn that the deployment would raise serious international law questions. Gaza’s status as a Palestinian territory under complex occupation arrangements means that stationing foreign troops could require international agreements or UN authorization.
“There is no clear legal pathway for a permanent U.S. military base in Gaza without broad international consent,” said one former U.S. defense official familiar with the region.
Reaction in Washington
In Washington, lawmakers are divided. Some Republican allies of Trump see the plan as bold and necessary to reshape Middle East security. Others, including members of both parties, warn that it could entangle the U.S. in another long-term ground commitment similar to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Democratic leaders have questioned whether such a move would undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at a two-state solution. They argue that American troops on the ground could become targets for militant attacks and further escalate regional violence.
A Signal of Future Policy
Although the plan remains unofficial, its existence signals how dramatically U.S. Middle East policy could shift if Trump returns to power. Rather than relying on multinational peacekeeping or negotiated frameworks, the documents show a preference for direct military control as a tool of stabilization.
For now, the proposal remains a confidential contingency plan. But its disclosure highlights the intensity of behind-the-scenes planning and the scale of ambition among Trump-aligned officials seeking to redefine America’s role in Gaza.
Whether such a base would ever be built is uncertain. What is clear is that the idea has already sparked alarm among diplomats, regional leaders, and humanitarian groups who fear that turning Gaza into a permanent military zone would deepen conflict rather than resolve it.