Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip – As United States President Donald Trump convened the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip expressed deep skepticism that the initiative would translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives. While Trump announced pledges of billions of dollars for reconstruction and security, residents grappling with displacement, shortages, and ongoing violence questioned whether the promises would differ from past international commitments.
“I’ve heard about money being collected for Gaza, but we see nothing. This has happened many times, but nothing ever changes,” said Amal Joudeh, 43, who lives in a tent in Deir el-Balah after being displaced from Beit Lahiya. “I am one of the people whose house is gone. I still have no home. My husband is injured, and my children are injured. We want any support or reconstruction… any solution,” she added.
During the meeting at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Trump stated that nine member nations had pledged $7 billion to a reconstruction fund for Gaza, and five countries had agreed to deploy troops to an International Stabilisation Force for the territory. He further announced a $10 billion contribution from the United States to the Board of Peace, though details regarding the allocation of these funds remained unclear, according to reports from the Associated Press and PBS NewsHour.
However, these pledges fall significantly short of the United Nations’ estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild Gaza, which has suffered widespread destruction during more than two years of conflict. The ceasefire brokered by Trump last October has done little to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians, with over 600 killed by Israeli gunfire since the truce took effect, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
Awad al-Ghoul, displaced from Rafah, described the Board of Peace as a “club of major powers” disconnected from the realities on the ground. “Israel kills, bombs, violates the ceasefire agreement daily and expands the buffer zone without anyone stopping it,” said al-Ghoul, 70, who now resides in a tent in az-Zawayda. “If a peace board of this size cannot force Israel to stop its attacks in a slight place like Gaza, how will it fix conflicts across the world?”
Concerns have been raised about the Board of Peace’s structure and potential for undue influence. According to a report in The Fresh York Times, reports that permanent membership would be granted to countries that contribute $1 billion in cash within the first year have raised questions about whether authoritarian governments could gain influence within the body. The Times also noted the conspicuous lack of detailed policy proposals accompanying the substantial financial pledges.
Jamal Abu Makhdeh, from Deir el-Balah, expressed cynicism about the board’s intentions. “They won’t do anything for Gaza. It’s all lies,” he said. “Anything Israel agrees to certainly won’t be in our interest.” He accused Trump and Israel of using the Board of Peace to impose their decisions on the world, prioritizing power and control over the needs of Palestinians.
Past reconstruction plans have been hampered by Israeli restrictions on the entry of construction materials, casting doubt on the likelihood of meaningful progress. “Even if the board decides to rebuild Gaza, Here’s unlikely and won’t happen. We’ve heard this many times and nothing happened,” Abu Makhdeh added.
While some, like al-Ghoul, expressed cautious optimism about the potential deployment of an international peacekeeping force, emphasizing the necessitate for it to act as a deterrent to Israeli aggression, others remained deeply skeptical. “Reconstruction has no value if Israel’s hand continues destroying and killing. What’s the point of rebuilding while Israel destroys?” al-Ghoul questioned.
Jouda, displaced for two years, simply expressed a desire for a dignified life for herself and her children, including access to education and a permanent home. “My demand is to return to my neighbourhood in Rafah, which has been occupied for a year and a half… even if in a tent,” said al-Ghoul. “What matters is that the army withdraws and we return to our places.”
The Board of Peace is scheduled to reconvene next month, but no specific date has been announced. The focus of that meeting will be to establish a framework for the disbursement of funds and the deployment of the International Stabilisation Force, according to a statement released by the U.S. State Department.
