As reported by Sanya Mansoor of Time, President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is scheduled to hold its first formal meeting on February 19 in Washington, with the session expected to focus on the next stage of a ceasefire in Gaza and fundraising for reconstruction of the territory. According to Time, the Board of Peace was unveiled last month at the World Economic Forum in Davos as a new international body tasked with overseeing implementation of a Gaza ceasefire and contributing to governance and rebuilding efforts. Time notes that member states include countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Turkey, Hungary, Morocco, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Argentina, Paraguay, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
According to an Associated Press report carried by KRCG-TV, the February 19 gathering in Washington is intended to raise money for Gaza’s reconstruction and bring together both world leaders who joined the board in January and members of an executive committee that will oversee governance, security, and redevelopment in Gaza. The AP report states that the meeting is planned to take place at the U.S. Institute of Peace in the U.S. capital, underscoring the administration’s effort to frame the initiative as a formal diplomatic and reconstruction platform. Axios, as cited by several outlets including Time and Polish public radio, has reported that the meeting is designed as a fundraising conference tied directly to Gaza’s postwar rebuilding.
According to reporting from Axios, referenced by international outlets, the Board of Peace operates under a charter linked to a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan for Gaza approved by the United Nations Security Council. The charter sketches out responsibilities for monitoring implementation of the ceasefire and coordinating financial contributions for reconstruction. As summarized by PBS NewsHour, a U.S. official has indicated that a contribution of 1 billion dollars secures a permanent seat on the board, while a three-year appointment does not require an upfront financial commitment, with funds collected earmarked specifically for rebuilding Gaza.
Context and Reactions: How Is the Meeting Being Received?
According to The Times of Israel, which cited two Arab diplomats, invitations for the February 19 meeting were sent to 26 other countries represented on the Board of Peace, and the session is set as the first working meeting since the body’s formation. The diplomats told the outlet that the timing coincides with the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, something they said could complicate attendance for some Muslim leaders. The Times of Israel also reported that the board’s Davos launch saw fewer than two dozen participating states, amid unease over its charter and perceptions that it might be positioned as an alternative to existing multilateral structures.
PBS NewsHour reported that several nations have indicated they were invited to join the board, and that some invitees shared Trump’s letters on social media, highlighting the Security Council’s endorsement of a 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan that includes creation of the Board of Peace. The outlet noted that the structure gives substantial weight to states willing or able to contribute large sums to reconstruction, which has attracted both interest and scrutiny. PBS further reported that Israel has expressed objections to a separate executive committee for Gaza’s civil administration, criticizing its composition and signaling rare public friction with Washington over the process.
According to Axios, as summarized in Italian news agency Agenzia Nova, the administration is promoting the Gaza Peace Council or Board of Peace as a new international conflict-management mechanism in which states can acquire a permanent seat through significant financial contributions. The draft statute reviewed by the New York Times reportedly does not explicitly name Gaza, prompting speculation that the body’s remit could extend beyond the enclave. Agenzia Nova’s account also notes that invitations went out to a broad range of governments, including European, Middle Eastern, and Latin American states, reflecting the administration’s bid to frame the initiative as globally representative.
Supporting Details and Expert Commentary
PBS NewsHour reported that at least eight additional nations, including Hungary and Vietnam, have already confirmed their acceptance to join the Board of Peace, underlining the administration’s push to broaden the coalition behind its Gaza initiative. The outlet noted that the 1 billion dollar threshold for permanent membership effectively ties long-term influence on the board to substantial financial commitments, with all contributions intended for reconstruction in Gaza. According to PBS, this funding model is central to the administration’s argument that the board can rapidly mobilize resources for rebuilding infrastructure and supporting economic recovery.
As reported by Time, the United Nations Security Council has authorized the Board of Peace to oversee implementation of the Gaza ceasefire and to work on governance and reconstruction, giving the body a formal role within the existing international system. Time’s account describes the initiative as an attempt to channel both political coordination and donor financing through a single structure, with Trump positioned to chair the board. According to coverage summarized by various outlets from Axios and the New York Times, the governance design and its financial thresholds have also raised questions among some experts about whether the new framework could sideline traditional multilateral institutions, including parts of the UN system.
Reporting from Firstpost, citing The Times of Israel, notes that the February 19 meeting will be the first since the board’s creation and is expected to serve as a working session rather than only a ceremonial gathering. The outlet states that this meeting comes after a signing ceremony in Davos where fewer countries than anticipated took part, partly due to concerns over the board’s charter and broader geopolitical tensions. International broadcasters, including Times Now, have reported that several Islamic-majority countries—among them Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia—have joined the board, reflecting regional interest in postwar arrangements for Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.
Implications and Future Developments: What Comes Next?
According to Reuters reporting cited by outlets such as Polish public radio and Pakistani broadcaster Dunya News, a U.S. government official has confirmed that the Board of Peace meeting is scheduled for February 19, but declined to elaborate on the agenda beyond what has already emerged in public reporting. The official referred further questions to the White House, which has not yet provided additional details on expected outcomes or specific funding commitments. These reports indicate that the meeting will double as a fundraiser, with the scale of pledged contributions likely to shape both the board’s credibility and Gaza’s reconstruction timeline.
Analysts quoted across coverage by PBS NewsHour and other outlets suggest that the composition of attendees and the sums pledged at the February 19 session will be closely watched as indicators of international confidence in the Board of Peace model. Future developments could include clarification of how the board will coordinate with existing UN agencies and financial institutions already active in Gaza, and whether additional states decide to seek permanent or rotating seats. Given Israel’s stated concerns about aspects of the executive committee overseeing Gaza’s civil administration, subsequent diplomatic engagements between Washington, Jerusalem, and key regional capitals are expected to influence how the board’s mandate is implemented on the ground.
The February 19 meeting in Washington marks the first major test of Trump’s Board of Peace, bringing together invited leaders and committee members to discuss Gaza’s ceasefire, governance, and reconstruction funding in a formal setting. With the United Nations Security Council having endorsed the framework and multiple countries signaling participation, the outcome of this initial session will help determine whether the board evolves into a central platform for Gaza’s rebuilding or remains one of several overlapping international efforts addressing the enclave’s future.
