Construction of a base intended for an international force in Gaza has been halted, leading to a dispute over who is responsible for the stoppage. The project, which involves a U.S.-based firm, has failed to break ground as scheduled, leaving the status of the international force in limbo.

COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, asserts that the delay is a result of Hamas interference. According to COGAT, Palestinian merchants have stopped coordinating the shipment of construction materials and goods because they are being intimidated by Hamas. This account suggests that the blockade on the project is a defensive measure against militant pressure on the local supply chain.

Conversely, the Gaza Truckers Union disputes the Israeli narrative entirely. Representatives from the union claim that the decision to halt the movement of goods and equipment was made unilaterally by Israeli authorities. They argue that the logistical blockade is an Israeli policy choice rather than a reaction to local intimidation.

Because these two accounts are diametrically opposed, it remains unclear whether the project is stalled due to local militant pressure or Israeli administrative restrictions. The U.S. firm involved in the construction has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the specific logistical hurdles preventing them from breaking ground.