Board of Peace pledges over $5 billion for Gaza

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced today that member states are expected to pledge over US$5 billion for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Gaza at a high-profile first official Board of Peace meeting scheduled for Thursday. More than 20 countries, including heads of state from various regions, will attend the event.

Delegates have also committed thousands of personnel toward a UN-authorised stabilisation force and local police in the Palestinian enclave, according to Trump’s post on Truth Social last Sunday. The President highlighted that the upcoming gathering marks the first official meeting of the board at the Donald J. Trump Institute for Peace, recently renamed by the State Department after him.

While regional powers such as Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Israel have joined the initiative, traditional Western allies like France, Germany, Canada, Japan, and South Korea have been more hesitant to participate.

The permanent members of this board will be responsible for contributing US$1 billion each. Critics argue that such a setup could resemble a “pay-to-play” version of the UN Security Council. Trump first introduced his “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, and several nations including Croatia, France, Italy, New Zealand, and Norway have declined to join.

The board was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of the Trump administration’s plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Both sides agreed to the ceasefire last year, which took effect officially in October, though both parties continue to accuse each other of violating its terms frequently.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that more than 590 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire began, while Israel states four of its soldiers were also killed by Palestinian militants during this period.