WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump convened the inaugural meeting of his newly formed “Board of Peace” on Thursday in Washington, bringing together international figures to discuss the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the shape of a possible stabilization mission.
The session focused on shoring up the truce and coordinating a reconstruction drive for Gaza. Trump said participating members collectively pledged $7 billion for rebuilding and that the United States would contribute an additional $10 billion, calling the figure modest compared with the cost of continued conflict. The White House did not provide details on the sources of the funding, and questions about how and when the money would be disbursed went unanswered.
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Saudi Arabia pledged $1 billion toward reconstruction through the initiative, participants said. In parallel, five countries — Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania — agreed to contribute troops to a proposed International Stabilization Force intended to help maintain order during the ceasefire period. Specific timelines, command structures and rules of engagement were not disclosed.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Argentine President Javier Milei attended the meeting, underscoring the mix of political allies Trump has rallied behind the initiative. But several key U.S. partners declined to formally join, including the United Kingdom, France, Norway and Sweden. Diplomats from some of those capitals said they were concerned the board’s framework does not explicitly reference Gaza and could undercut the United Nations’ central role in overseeing peacekeeping and reconstruction. The United Kingdom, Norway and Italy sent representatives to observe.
In a further setback to efforts to broaden international backing, the Vatican said the pope declined Trump’s invitation, reiterating that the United Nations remains the primary body responsible for managing international crises.
Backers of the Board of Peace cast the gathering as a pragmatic step to keep the ceasefire in place and accelerate delivery of aid and rebuilding funds. Skeptics questioned whether the mechanism duplicates existing channels, risks fragmenting donor coordination and complicates any UN-led security presence on the ground.
Key elements highlighted by participants included:
- Funding: Saudi Arabia’s $1 billion pledge; a total of $7 billion in commitments announced by participants; an additional $10 billion the United States intends to contribute. Details on sources, timelines and oversight remain unclear.
- Security: A proposed International Stabilization Force with planned troop contributions from Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania. No final structure or mandate was announced.
- Participation: Attendance by Orbán and Milei; several European allies declined to formally join but sent observers, citing concerns about UN primacy and the board’s mandate.
Trump framed the Board of Peace as a vehicle to streamline decision-making and mobilize resources quickly for Gaza. Yet without a defined legal basis, transparent financing and clear coordination with UN agencies already operating in the enclave, the initiative faces immediate tests of credibility and capacity.
It was not immediately clear when the stabilization force might be assembled or deployed, how it would interact with existing security arrangements, or whether additional countries would sign on to the mission. Nor did the White House release a public framework for monitoring use of the pledged reconstruction funds.
With the ceasefire still described as fragile, diplomats who observed the meeting said the coming weeks will determine whether the Board of Peace can draw broader support, align with UN mechanisms and move money and personnel fast enough to make a difference on the ground in Gaza.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
