Ambassador Mike Huckabee has expressed concerns over the feasibility of US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, citing potential staffing and resource gaps.
What happened
The plan, which aims to bring peace to the region, faces significant hurdles, including the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza. Huckabee's concerns center on the International Gaza Support Center, a US-led coordination hub in Israel, which is set to undergo a reduction in Pentagon staffing over the coming year.
The Board of Peace, a transitional administration endorsed by the United Nations, is confident in its preparations, but Huckabee has questioned how responsibilities will shift to the State Department and the Board, and what resources are needed to prevent critical operations from falling through the cracks.
The plan's ambitious goals, including Hamas disarmament, further Israeli withdrawal, Palestinian civilian governance, and reconstruction, remain largely unrealized. The United Nations has endorsed the Board of Peace, and an international stabilization force is supposed to help secure Gaza, but the force has not yet deployed.
The reconstruction efforts are also facing financial challenges, with an estimated $71 billion needed over the next decade, and a current recovery program of $2.45 billion covering 66 projects.
