United States President Donald Trump has declared that the war in Gaza is over, using the launch of his new Board of Peace to signal what he calls the beginning of a “new chapter” for the devastated territory.
Speaking Thursday in Washington, DC, Trump framed the announcement not as a ceasefire extension or temporary lull but as a definitive end to the conflict that has reshaped the region since October 2023.
“This is about making the peace stick,” he said, positioning the Board of Peace as the mechanism that will transform battlefield cessation into permanent stability.
While Trump’s declaration carries political weight, questions remain about what “over” means in operational terms. Previous ceasefires have been fragile, and experts warn that without a formal disarmament agreement involving Hamas and firm guarantees against further military escalation, the situation could quickly unravel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed the reconstruction framework, while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar described the initiative as the first plan to address the “root causes” of the conflict, including the disarmament of militant groups and demilitarisation of Gaza.
However, there has been no public announcement of a comprehensive political settlement between Israel and Palestinian factions.
Trump paired his declaration with a sweeping reconstruction pledge, committing $10bn in US funding and claiming more than $7bn in additional contributions from regional partners.
Ajay Banga confirmed the World Bank will serve as a limited trustee to manage donor funds, while Marc Rowan of Apollo Global Management outlined plans to build 100,000 homes and invest billions in infrastructure.
The proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF), expected to include troops from Indonesia, Morocco, Kosovo and others, is intended to secure Gaza during the transition from conflict to reconstruction.
Despite declaring the war over, the broader political question of Palestinian statehood remains unsettled. A Palestinian technocratic committee will oversee daily governance, but there is no Palestinian political leadership represented on the Board of Peace itself.
Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, was the only senior leader at the summit to explicitly reference Palestinian aspirations for statehood.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the board as a new model for resolving complex conflicts, arguing that traditional international institutions had failed to end the crisis.
Trump’s declaration may reshape diplomatic narratives, but analysts caution that declarations alone do not eliminate underlying tensions.
If ceasefire violations resume or disarmament negotiations stall, the claim that the war is over could prove premature. If security stabilises and reconstruction gains momentum, however, the announcement could mark a pivotal turning point in one of the region’s most destructive chapters.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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