More than two dozen countries are set to gather in Washington for the inaugural session of a U.S.-backed initiative aimed at rebuilding Gaza following a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace will hold its first official meeting Feb. 19 in Washington, bringing together representatives from more than two dozen nations participating in a U.S.-backed effort to support humanitarian relief, reconstruction and security stabilization in the Gaza Strip.
Member nations have pledged more than $5 billion in combined aid commitments for Gaza, including funds designated for humanitarian assistance and long-term rebuilding projects. The meeting will take place at the former U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters, with Trump expected to outline additional details regarding allocation and oversight of the pledged funds.
The Board of Peace was launched after a cease-fire brokered late last year between Israel and Hamas. The initiative operates alongside a Palestinian technocratic committee led by former Palestinian Authority official Ali Abdel Hamid Sha’ath. According to administration descriptions, the board is designed to provide “strategic oversight, mobilize international resources, and ensure accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development.”
Trump chairs the board and retains veto authority over its decisions and membership. He appointed seven members to the Executive Board: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, private equity executive Marc Rowan, and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga.
The administration has described the Board of Peace as a potential framework for future international conflict resolution efforts beyond Gaza. However, the United Nations has limited its initial authorization to focus on Gaza-related reconstruction and stabilization.
Trump has suggested the board could eventually supplant the U.N. Security Council, stating that the council “just hasn’t been very helpful” in resolving global conflicts. At the same time, he has acknowledged that “you’ve got to let the U.N. continue, because the potential is so great.”
The five permanent members of the Security Council—China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States—have not uniformly embraced the initiative. France and the United Kingdom have declined participation, while China and Russia have not publicly committed to joining.
Participating nations to date include Argentina, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Egypt, El Salvador, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kosovo, Morocco, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and the United States.
In an online statement, Trump wrote that participating countries have committed “thousands of personnel to the International Stabilization Force and Local Police to maintain Security and Peace for Gazans,” adding that “very importantly, Hamas must uphold its commitment to Full and Immediate Demilitarization.”
The United Nations has reported that Gaza faces a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions at risk of hunger and malnutrition. In October 2025, the organization estimated that 81 percent of all structures in Gaza had been damaged.
Despite the financial pledges and multinational backing, the initiative has drawn criticism from several governments. France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Ukraine declined invitations to join by late January. China, Croatia, Cyprus, India, the European Union’s executive arm, Russia and Singapore have yet to formally respond.
European Council President António Costa raised concerns in a public statement, writing, “We have serious doubts about a number of elements in the charter of the Board of Peace related to its scope, its governance and its compatibility with the UN Charter.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk cited similar reservations in declining participation.
New Zealand also declined, requesting clarification on how the board would function alongside existing United Nations mechanisms. Other nations—including Croatia, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia and Spain—indicated they would not join.
The Feb. 19 meeting is expected to include both heads of state and official delegations from participating countries. As the Board of Peace begins formal operations, its structure, authority and relationship with existing international institutions remain central points of debate among global leaders.
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