Donald Trump is set to preside over the inaugural meeting of his newly formed Board of Peace in Washington, gathering representatives from more than 45 countries to discuss post-war stabilization and reconstruction in Gaza. The session will take place at the United States Institute of Peace, a building Trump recently renamed after himself, and is expected to announce an initial $5 billion reconstruction fund.
The proposed fund is seen as a down payment on a much larger effort. According to U.S. officials, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are each expected to contribute about $1.2 billion.
Core Challenges Facing the Initiative
Major unresolved issues threaten to test the board’s effectiveness. These include the disarmament of Hamas, the structure and scale of Gaza’s reconstruction financing, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches civilians after years of conflict. Hamas has been reluctant to surrender weapons under Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, citing fears of Israeli retaliation, while demilitarization remains a prerequisite for deploying an international stabilization force.
Senior U.S. officials say several countries are preparing to contribute troops to such a force, but deployment could take weeks or months. Establishing security is seen as essential before reconstruction and governance can proceed.
Controversy and Diplomatic Gaps
The Board of Peace has drawn criticism for including Israel but excluding Palestinian representatives, raising concerns about legitimacy and inclusivity. Trump’s suggestion that the body could later address other global conflicts has also stirred anxiety that it may sideline the United Nations as the primary forum for international diplomacy.
Notably absent from the meeting are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — including France, Britain, Russia, and China — highlighting geopolitical divisions surrounding the initiative.
Security, Mediation, and Aid Delivery Issues
Speakers are expected to include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former British prime minister Tony Blair, and Gaza high representative Nickolay Mladenov.
Key operational questions remain unresolved: who will negotiate with Hamas, how security forces will be trained, and who will distribute aid once it arrives. Countries with influence over Hamas, such as Qatar and Turkey, may serve as intermediaries, though Israel remains sceptical of both.
Officials also warn that humanitarian aid flows remain “disastrous,” and scaling up assistance will be ineffective without a clear distribution mechanism.
Analysis: Ambition Meets Political and Security Realities
Trump’s Board of Peace represents an effort to reshape post-conflict governance in Gaza through a coalition-based approach outside traditional multilateral structures. By assembling funding commitments and a potential stabilization force, Washington aims to create momentum for reconstruction and security.
However, the initiative faces profound obstacles. Demilitarization of Hamas, legitimacy concerns stemming from Palestinian exclusion, and the absence of major global powers could undermine both credibility and implementation. Without a trusted security framework and functioning aid delivery system, reconstruction funds alone will not stabilize the enclave.
The board’s success will depend on whether it can bridge political divides, secure credible mediation channels, and establish governance mechanisms accepted by both regional actors and Gaza’s population. Failing that, it risks becoming another diplomatic framework overshadowed by unresolved security realities on the ground.
With information from Reuters.
