Representatives linked to Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" have held talks with Dubai-based logistics giant DP World over managing supply chains and infrastructure projects in Gaza, according to a report by the Financial Times. The discussions reportedly explored whether the state-owned company could partner with the group to oversee the flow of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Proposals on the table reportedly included warehousing, cargo tracking systems and security arrangements. More ambitious ideas discussed included constructing a new port either inside Gaza or along Egypt's nearby Mediterranean coast, as well as establishing a free-trade zone within the war-ravaged territory. A draft proposal reviewed by the Financial Times 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 said the company was not aware of any such discussions, and the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.

DP World, owned by the Dubai government, is one of the world's largest port operators, handling roughly ten percent of global trade daily across more than 80 countries. The company has recently undergone a leadership change after its longtime chair stepped down in February. The talks come amid a broader push by US officials to privatise much of Gaza's services and infrastructure as part of plans for what they call a "new Gaza" — an approach that forms part of longstanding American proposals for the territory's future.

Critics have sharply condemned such plans, arguing they sideline Palestinians, bypass international institutions including the United Nations, and risk legitimising the forced displacement of Palestinian communities from their land. Progress toward a lasting peace deal has meanwhile stalled. Israel continues to occupy large portions of the enclave, and aid access remains severely restricted despite a US-brokered ceasefire announced last October. Since then, Israeli attacks have killed more than 700 people and injured around 2,000, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The scale of the challenge is enormous. A joint assessment by the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank estimates that Gaza — where two years of bombardment have destroyed four-fifths of its buildings — will require $71.4 billion for reconstruction over the next decade, including $23 billion needed within the next 18 months. Separate discussions involving companies in the security, finance and technology sectors are also reportedly continuing behind the scenes.