Dubai-based logistics giant DP World has held discussions with representatives linked to Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" regarding the management of supply chains and infrastructure projects in Gaza. According to the Financial Times, the talks explored whether the state-owned company could partner with the group to oversee logistics for humanitarian aid and commercial goods entering the besieged Palestinian enclave.
The report stated that proposals discussed included building a new port in Gaza or on Egypt's nearby Mediterranean coast, as well as creating a free-trade zone inside the war-ravaged territory. These plans form part of longstanding proposals by US officials to privatize much of the Palestinian territory's services and infrastructure as part of their purported plans for a "new Gaza."
However, critics have accused such plans of sidelining Palestinians, bypassing international institutions including the United Nations, and risking the legitimization of the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land. The report comes as progress toward peace in Gaza has stalled, with Israel continuing to occupy large swaths of the enclave and aid access remaining heavily restricted despite a US-brokered "ceasefire" announced last October.
The FT said a draft proposal it reviewed described a vision for a "secure and traceable supply chain system" and a "port-led economic ecosystem," alongside light industry and job-creation platforms. It was not clear who drafted the document or how far the talks progressed. A spokesperson for DP World told the newspaper they were not aware of any discussions, while the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to FT's request for comment.
DP World, owned by the Dubai government, is one of the world's largest port operators and claims to handle about 10 percent of global trade daily across more than 80 countries. The company's senior leadership was reshuffled after longtime chair Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem stepped down in February following scrutiny over his links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Meanwhile, discussions linked to Gaza's reconstruction have continued behind the scenes, including talks with companies in the security, finance, and technology sectors.
Source: www.aljazeera.com