Race for Influence in Gaza Reconstruction: American Companies and Officials Compete for Billions in Reconstruction

SadaNews Translation: Documents and sources reviewed by The Guardian reveal a fierce competition among officials in the Trump administration and politically connected American companies to control humanitarian aid and logistical reconstruction operations in the Gaza Strip, where three-quarters of its buildings were destroyed during two years of Israeli airstrikes. The United Nations estimates the cost of reconstruction at about $70 billion, making the territory an open field for massive business opportunities in construction, demolition, transport, and logistics services, as SadaNews translated.

Despite the United Nations' endorsement of the "Peace Council" led by Donald Trump to manage the area, the council has not yet begun its work, while the authority of the Civil-Military Coordination Center remains limited. In parallel, the White House has formed a special task force for Gaza led by Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and Arie Lightstone.

Information translated by SadaNews indicates that two former officials from the U.S. State Department, who previously worked on Elon Musk's team to downsize the government, are leading discussions about the future of aid and reconstruction. They have distributed presentations outlining detailed logistical plans, including pricing, financial forecasts, and potential warehouse locations.

Powerful Companies Compete for Contracts

Among the prominent competing companies is Gothams, a construction company with extensive political connections, which previously secured a $33 million contract to manage a notorious immigrant detention center in Florida dubbed "Alcatraz of the Alligator." Documents reviewed by The Guardian indicate that the company had a "competitive advantage" to win what could be the largest contract in its history, before its founder, Matt Mickelson, announced its withdrawal after receiving inquiries from the newspaper, citing security concerns and the potential for negative publicity as reasons for his decision.

While the spokesperson for the White House Gaza task force refuses to provide details about the process, sources indicate that American contractors are traveling to the region to meet with influential officials and discuss job opportunities before the holidays. One seasoned contractor stated, as translated by SadaNews: "Everyone is trying to profit from this situation... they are treating it as if it were a new Iraq or Afghanistan war."

Logistical Plans Worth Billions

A planning document attributed to advisor Adam Hoffman, classified as "sensitive but unclassified," reveals a proposal to appoint a "prime contractor" responsible for bringing in 600 trucks daily to Gaza. The document proposes charging fees of $2,000 for humanitarian aid trucks and $12,000 for commercial trucks, which could generate revenues of up to $1.7 billion annually.

The significance of truck transport is highlighted in light of Israel's tightening restrictions on the entry of essential goods since October 7, 2023, where Israel has allowed only an average of 140 trucks daily, despite an agreement stating that 600 trucks of aid should enter.

Severe Criticism and Lack of Humanitarian Expertise

Humanitarian actors question the feasibility of these plans. Amid Khan, who runs an organization to deliver medicines to Gaza, says: "None of these people have experience in humanitarian work... there are no medicines or medical equipment. It's a flawed and ridiculous plan."

The Guardian also reviewed a proposal submitted by Gothams to the Peace Council, offering a comprehensive logistics system to support large-scale relief operations, while sources indicate that the company was the leading candidate to manage logistics before its sudden withdrawal.

Networks of Influence and Political Financing

Gothams' founder, Matt Mickelson, has extensive political connections and has made generous donations to Republican officials, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. His company has experienced significant growth due to large government contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the detention center sector.

In a recent interview, Mickelson confirmed that the plans related to Gaza have changed radically over the past two weeks, and that The Guardian's inquiries prompted him to withdraw from the project, saying: "Your questions affected me deeply... Gothams will not participate, and I wish them luck."