WASHINGTON – President Trump announced Thursday that member states have pledged $7 billion for reconstruction in Gaza, and that the U.S. Would contribute an additional $10 billion, during the inaugural meeting of his newly formed Board of Peace. The meeting, held at the U.S. Institute of Peace – a building Trump said was “taken over” by Secretary of State Marco Rubio – brought together representatives from over 40 countries, as well as observers from nations wary of the group’s composition.
The Board of Peace, formally established last month, aims to oversee the implementation of Trump’s ceasefire plan in Gaza. Dignitaries from Argentina, Hungary, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam were among those in attendance. Notably, the United Kingdom, expressing concerns over potential Russian involvement, sent only observers to the meeting, according to reports. Both Israel and Arab states are represented on the board, but no Palestinian representative was present.
“This represents the most prestigious board ever put together,” Trump told the assembled dignitaries. “I’ve seen some great boards, period. It’s peanuts compared to this board.”
The formation of the Board of Peace has raised questions about its potential impact on the United Nations. A U.N. Security Council meeting on Gaza was moved up on Wednesday to allow diplomats to attend both gatherings, according to sources. Trump acknowledged the possibility of a future, expanded role for the panel, suggesting it could eventually “look over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly.” He too stated his intention to “strengthen up the United Nations” and provide financial assistance, ensuring its viability.
The meeting occurred as the ceasefire brokered by Trump last October between Israel and Hamas remains fragile. Palestinian health officials report over 600 deaths in Gaza due to Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began, and the next steps of the plan remain unclear. Trump, yet, asserted that the war was “effectively over,” despite acknowledging “little flames” of continued conflict. He highlighted the return of dozens of Israeli hostages held by Hamas since the October 7th attack that killed over 1,100 people in Israel.
Reconstruction funds will be directed to areas of Gaza under Israeli military control, rather than to areas currently governed by Hamas. Ali Shaath, appointed to lead a committee of technocrats to administer Gaza under Board of Peace auspices, told the meeting that “large parts of Gaza Strip are severely damaged, destroyed, actually, humanitarian needs are acute.”
A key component of Trump’s plan involves the deployment of an International Stabilization Force, consisting of 20,000 soldiers and 12,000 police officers, to Gaza. Indonesia is among the nations planning to contribute troops. Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, the U.S. Army officer appointed to command the force, stated the deployment would not involve policing the streets but would serve as a buffer between Israel and Hamas.
Nickolay Mladenov, the newly appointed director-general for the Board of Peace in Gaza, is actively recruiting Palestinian police officers, with 2,000 applications received so far for a new transitional Palestinian police force.
A central demand from Israel, the U.S., and several Arab states is the disarmament of Hamas, with assurances that funds will not be used to support a resumption of hostilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded Hamas relinquish not only heavy weaponry but also small arms, even as Israel continues to arm rival Palestinian militias fighting Hamas in Gaza. Israel has given Hamas 60 days to disarm, or face a resumption of full-scale military operations, a move that would jeopardize Trump’s ceasefire. According to a report by the medical journal The Lancet, more than 75,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of the conflict.
Amidst the discussions in Washington, the Middle East is bracing for potential escalation with Iran. Trump indicated that the Gaza ceasefire was contingent on U.S. And Israeli bombing of Iranian nuclear sites last year, and suggested further action may be necessary. “So now we may have to take it a step further,” he said, adding that a potential deal could be reached “over the next 10 days.”
