The ambitious blueprint for reconstructing the entire Gaza Strip has been dramatically scaled down.
Donald Trump's Board of Peace (BoP) is now pursuing a limited pilot project in the south, near Rafah.
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The plan involves a temporary camp for a small fraction of Gaza's 2 million displaced people.
It would include a Palestinian administration, police, and an international security force, but is not expected to be operational before the end of 2026.
Incremental Steps and Delays
Recent weeks have seen small advances, such as the arrival of Moroccan and Kosovar officers in Israel.
These officers are meant to form the core of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to protect the pilot camp.
A logistical base for the ISF is nearing completion at the Kerem Shalom crossing.
However, preparatory work on the Rafah camp itself has not started, nor has construction of its support base.
Satellite images show disturbed earth but no new structures. Substantial progress is unlikely before Israel's elections on October 27.
Western diplomats believe a new Israeli government offers the best hope for progress, though any successor's flexibility is uncertain.
Israel has repeatedly violated the Trump-brokered ceasefire since last October, blocking reconstruction and limiting humanitarian aid.
One diplomat in Jerusalem said the BoP had to make the most of limited progress to prevent extreme factions from taking over.
"The aim is just to keep something going, keep the ball in play," the diplomat said, warning that others with a more extreme agenda are waiting to jump in.
