Trump’s Board of Peace Convenes to Address Gaza Crisis

WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly established Board of Peace convened its inaugural meeting in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, February 19, 2026, focusing intensely on solidifying the fragile ceasefire in Gaza and initiating comprehensive reconstruction efforts. The summit, held at the U.S. Institute of Peace, saw representatives from at least 40 countries gather, with significant financial pledges and commitments for ground stabilization forces aimed at bringing lasting calm to the region.

President Trump announced that the United States would contribute a substantial $10 billion to the Board of Peace, emphasizing this amount was small ‘compared to the cost of war.’ He also highlighted that other member nations had collectively donated approximately $7 billion, underscoring a broad international commitment to the organization’s mission. These financial contributions are intended to support critical humanitarian aid, infrastructure rebuilding, and security operations in Gaza.

Inaugural Summit Addresses Gaza Reconstruction

The three-hour meeting featured dozens of speakers, including President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside various heads of state and international officials. A primary focus was the detailed plan for Gaza’s reconstruction and stabilization. Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management, outlined an ambitious housing initiative, projecting the construction of 100,000 homes for 500,000 residents initially, with a long-term goal of over 400,000 homes. Rowan asserted that the challenge was not financial but rather one of establishing peace.

Beyond housing, Liran Tancman, a cybersecurity entrepreneur, stressed the importance of reconnecting Gaza to the global economy through digital infrastructure and advanced logistics systems. Ali Shaath, head of the Palestinian technocratic committee, laid out priorities that included restoring security, training thousands of police officers, reviving the economy to create jobs, and ensuring sustainable emergency relief and essential services like electricity and water. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz reported significant improvements in humanitarian aid, noting that 4,200 aid trucks entered Gaza weekly for 13 consecutive weeks, severe hunger dropped from 30% to 1%, access to drinking water doubled, and childhood malnutrition was halved.

Financial Pledges and Global Participation

The financial backing for the Board of Peace’s initiatives has been considerable. Beyond the U.S. pledge, Qatar committed $1 billion, and the United Arab Emirates pledged $1.2 billion for Gaza support. President Trump acknowledged contributions exceeding $7 billion from nations including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait. Additionally, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced a partnership with the Board, committing $2.5 million to build soccer fields and arenas in Gaza, aiming to foster hope and community engagement through sport.

Several countries also pledged military and police personnel for an international stabilization force. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed his commitment to send up to 8,000 troops, praising President Trump’s leadership in achieving the ceasefire. Morocco committed to deploying police officers, training Gazan police, and sending high-ranking military officers. Albania and Kosovo also confirmed their participation in the stabilization force. U.S. Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers detailed plans to deploy 12,000 police and 20,000 soldiers, initially focusing on the Rafah sector, and Egypt committed to continuing to train Palestinian police.

Despite these commitments, some key U.S. allies, including the U.K., France, Norway, Sweden, and Slovenia, declined invitations or expressed hesitation to join, primarily due to concerns that the Board of Peace might sideline or compete with the United Nations. President Trump, while expressing optimism that these countries would eventually join, cautioned them not to ‘play cute with me.’ He also announced that Norway, despite its initial reservations, had agreed to host a future Board of Peace event, though it remains unclear if its stance on full membership has changed.

Defining a Role Alongside the United Nations

A central theme of the meeting was the Board of Peace’s relationship with existing international bodies, particularly the United Nations. President Trump stated that the Board would ‘almost be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly.’ This assertion followed past criticisms from Trump regarding the U.N. However, he also paradoxically affirmed U.S. support for the U.N., stating, ‘We’re going to strengthen up the United Nations. We’re going to make sure its facilities are good. They need help, and they need help money-wise. We’re going to help them money-wise, and we’re going to make sure the United Nations is viable.’ This dual messaging reflects a complex strategy of simultaneously establishing a new international forum while attempting to reassure established global institutions.

Regarding the broader security landscape, President Trump declared the war in Gaza ‘over’ but warned that Hamas would be ‘harshly met’ if they failed to give up their weapons as promised. He also indicated that the outcome of ongoing talks with Iran would be decided within the next 10 days, amid an increased U.S. military presence in the Middle East and the possibility of further strikes on Iran, building on actions taken last year.

The inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace signals a determined effort by the Trump administration to establish a new, U.S.-led framework for international peacekeeping and reconstruction, particularly in volatile regions like Gaza. While securing substantial financial and logistical commitments, the initiative also faces the challenge of integrating with or distinguishing itself from established global governance structures, especially as some traditional allies express caution regarding its long-term role.