As reported by AP7AM, the White House framed the return of Israeli hostages from Gaza and the launch of a new international framework for post-war reconstruction as a major Middle East foreign policy achievement for President Donald Trump. At a White House briefing in Washington, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president had helped secure the return of “the last remaining body of the hostages” from Gaza, describing it as “a huge foreign policy feat for the president of the United States.” According to AP7AM, Leavitt emphasized that the development carried significance not only for Israel but also for regional stability, calling it “great news for the president, for the United States, for our allies and also for peace in the Middle East.”
According to AP7AM, Leavitt also announced that more than 20 countries had joined a newly created “Board of Peace” focused on Gaza’s reconstruction following months of intense conflict. The initiative was presented as a coordinated international mechanism to channel support for rebuilding the enclave and stabilizing conditions on the ground. AP7AM reported that the White House cast the Board of Peace as another “historic accomplishment” of the Trump administration and part of a broader diplomatic push in the region.
What reactions and context have emerged?
According to AP7AM, Leavitt portrayed the recovery of the last hostage’s body from Gaza as the culmination of sustained diplomatic engagement involving multiple international partners. She said the outcome underlined Trump’s personal involvement in Middle East diplomacy and his focus on securing the return of hostages while pursuing broader stabilization efforts. AP7AM noted that the White House linked the hostage development and the new reconstruction mechanism to a wider narrative of advancing peace in the Middle East.
The Gaza conflict has been one of the most volatile and closely watched crises in the region, intertwining humanitarian concerns, regional security risks, and complex international diplomacy. Efforts to secure the fate of hostages held in Gaza and to organize post-war reconstruction have been central to international discussions on the territory’s future. According to AP7AM, the administration framed the new Board of Peace and the hostages’ return as steps that could help prevent a resurgence of violence while addressing urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs.
Supporting details
AP7AM reported that the Board of Peace is designed as an international platform to coordinate financial and technical support for Gaza’s rebuilding, with participating countries agreeing to work together on reconstruction priorities. According to the outlet, Leavitt stressed that more than 20 countries have already signed on, signaling broad backing for the initiative among US allies and partners. She described the mechanism as an example of multilateral cooperation under US leadership in the aftermath of the conflict.
According to AP7AM, the White House message tied the Board of Peace to Trump’s broader foreign policy agenda, highlighting what officials characterized as “another historic accomplishment” and arguing that the administration had made “the impossible possible” through sustained diplomacy. The hostages’ return and the reconstruction push were presented together as evidence of progress on both security and humanitarian fronts. AP7AM noted that the administration’s public messaging linked these steps to long-term peace and stability in the region.
What are the implications and next steps?
According to AP7AM, the White House signaled that Trump intends to remain personally engaged in Middle East peace efforts, including ongoing contacts with regional and global partners over Gaza’s stabilization and reconstruction. Leavitt said the president continues to work with other governments to support the post-war rebuilding process and to prevent a renewed outbreak of violence in the enclave.
AP7AM reported that the success of the Board of Peace will depend on how effectively participating countries coordinate resources and implement reconstruction projects in Gaza over time. The initiative’s progress, along with the political and security conditions on the ground, is expected to shape future US diplomatic activity in the region. According to the outlet, the administration is positioning the hostages’ return and the new peace mechanism as central pillars of its Middle East policy going forward.
The White House’s latest announcement underscores Trump’s effort to present the recovery of the final hostage’s body and the launch of the Board of Peace as key markers of his administration’s approach to Gaza and the wider Middle East. Officials have framed these developments as both a humanitarian milestone and a platform for long-term reconstruction and stabilization, setting the stage for continued diplomatic engagement in the months ahead.
