United States President Donald Trump has hosted the inaugural meeting of his newly formed “Board of Peace” in Washington, DC, unveiling an ambitious reconstruction and security blueprint for Gaza backed by billions of dollars in international pledges.
The high-profile summit, held at the United States Institute for Peace, gathered representatives from the Middle East, Europe and Asia to outline funding mechanisms, troop deployments and governance reforms aimed at reshaping the war-battered enclave. The meeting concluded to the sounds of Village People’s hit song YMCA, underscoring the theatrical tone that has characterised much of Trump’s diplomacy.
Trump pledged a $10bn US contribution to the board, describing the initiative as “something the likes of which nobody has seen before.” He also claimed that Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates had collectively committed more than $7bn toward relief and reconstruction.
Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, announced a $1bn pledge and emphasised the need for a “final resolution” that fulfils Palestinian aspirations for statehood alongside Israeli security. His remarks stood out as no US official at the summit explicitly referenced a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio defended the board as a necessary alternative to existing international mechanisms, arguing that traditional institutions had failed to resolve the crisis in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who initially opposed the initiative before joining it in February, has lent support to the board. Israel’s top diplomat Gideon Sa’ar praised Trump’s framework as the “first plan to address the root of the problem,” citing goals of disarming Hamas and Islamic Jihad, demilitarising Gaza and deradicalising Palestinian society.
However, critics argue that the absence of Palestinian representation on the wider board undermines its legitimacy. Although a Palestinian technocratic body the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) has been appointed to manage daily operations, protesters outside the venue chanted “Gaza is not for sale” and “Free Palestine,” insisting that no durable peace can emerge without self-determination.
General Jasper Jeffers, appointed commander of the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF), outlined plans to deploy brigades across five sectors, beginning with Rafah. The long-term objective includes 12,000 police and 20,000 ISF soldiers.
Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania have reportedly committed troops, while Egypt and Jordan have agreed to train Palestinian police forces. Yet experts caution that such deployments remain unlikely without a firm ceasefire and a voluntary disarmament agreement from Hamas.
Turkiye’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, expressed readiness to contribute troops and assist in rebuilding Gaza’s health and education systems an offer Netanyahu has explicitly opposed.
Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank Group, confirmed that the institution will act as a “limited trustee,” managing donor contributions and ensuring oversight mechanisms for reconstruction spending.
He stressed the need to leverage public finance, de-risk private investment and deploy on-the-ground expertise to stabilise Gaza’s shattered infrastructure.
Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management and an executive board member, highlighted what he called Gaza’s “tremendous” economic potential, estimating the coastline alone could represent $50bn in value. Initial plans include constructing 100,000 homes and investing $5bn in infrastructure.
Despite sending observers, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany declined formal membership, citing legal and constitutional constraints. France rejected the invitation outright, reportedly concerned that the board could sideline the United Nations and grant Trump sweeping authority beyond transitional governance.
Trump himself stated that the Board of Peace would “overlook” the UN to ensure it “runs properly,” without elaborating further.
Outside the venue, demonstrators criticised what they described as a one-sided narrative presented during the meeting, including a promotional video that attributed Gaza’s destruction solely to Hamas while omitting references to Israeli military operations or ceasefire violations.
Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, framed the board as proof that “if you actually have a president committed to diplomacy, it can work.” Yet Washington’s past vetoes of UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire have drawn scrutiny from observers questioning the consistency of US policy.
The Board of Peace envisions rebuilding Rafah within three years, slashing unemployment and transforming Gaza into a globally connected economic hub. Trump has repeatedly described the enclave in terms akin to a real estate venture, promising new housing, infrastructure and even football facilities featuring global stars.
Whether the initiative becomes a blueprint for lasting peace or a flashpoint for further instability may depend on factors beyond funding: ceasefire durability, regional cooperation and, most crucially, meaningful Palestinian political inclusion.
For now, Trump’s Board of Peace marks a dramatic new chapter in US-led Middle East diplomacy one as ambitious as it is controversial.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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