As reported by Sarah Roderick-Fitch of The Center Square, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to lead the inaugural meeting of his newly formed Board of Peace, an international body he has positioned at the center of efforts to rebuild Gaza and stabilize the broader region.
According to reporting from multiple outlets, the first gathering is being held in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Institute of Peace, where Trump will preside over representatives from dozens of invited nations.
According to The Globe and Mail, the White House has indicated that more than 20 countries are expected to participate, with the administration framing the event as a launch point for extensive reconstruction and humanitarian projects in Gaza.
As reported by Time, Trump first announced the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as part of what his administration calls a U.N.-endorsed 20‑point plan for Gaza that includes a phased ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas, and the installation of a technocratic transitional governance structure in Palestinian territories.
According to Time’s coverage, Trump is using the inaugural meeting to unveil major financial commitments, including his announcement that the United States intends to contribute 10 billion dollars to the Board of Peace to support Gaza-focused reconstruction and related initiatives.
What is on the agenda and who is taking part?
According to The Globe and Mail, the White House has said that participating countries have collectively pledged more than 5 billion dollars in humanitarian and reconstruction funding for Gaza, alongside commitments to send thousands of personnel to an international stabilization force that would help maintain security on the ground.
As reported by Brushwood Media Network, the Board of Peace is structured as an international group of governmental representatives from invited countries, with Trump serving as chair.
According to Brushwood Media Network, Trump’s administration invited 60 nations to join the board during last month’s World Economic Forum meetings, and countries including Russia, Hungary, Israel, and Argentina have joined, while the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Greece, and Ukraine declined to participate.
According to Al Jazeera’s reporting, the inaugural meeting brings together several Middle Eastern states while many Western allies remain cautious, reflecting mixed international reception of the initiative.
As reported by CBC News, despite the administration’s efforts to rally support, most NATO and European Union allies have opted not to take part, and Canada’s invitation was withdrawn after Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized aspects of the project and objected to the financial terms for permanent membership.
Context, reactions and criticism
According to Al Jazeera, the Board of Peace has drawn scrutiny over Trump’s decision to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, both of whom are wanted by the International Criminal Court on war‑crimes charges; the outlet reports that Netanyahu has accepted the invitation and has voiced displeasure over the planned involvement of Turkish and Qatari representatives on the board’s executive body.
As reported by Brushwood Media Network, the Vatican has declined to join the Board of Peace, with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin telling Vatican News that the Holy See believes crisis situations of this kind should primarily be managed at the international level by the United Nations, and citing concerns about the structure of Trump’s initiative.
According to Brushwood Media Network, a senior U.S. administration official responded by saying that the Pope and the Vatican remain welcome to join other nations backing the Board of Peace and its stated principles of promoting stability and building a durable peace.
According to CBC News, Norway also distanced itself from the initiative during the launch period: while Trump claimed at the meeting that Norway intended to host an event connected to the Board of Peace, the Norwegian government clarified that it would instead host the long‑standing Ad‑Hoc Liaison Committee on Palestinian aid and would not become a member of Trump’s board.
As reported by NPR, some U.S. allies have expressed unease about the board’s mandate and its relationship to existing multilateral mechanisms, raising questions over how it fits alongside U.N. processes and established donor coordination frameworks for Gaza.
Supporting details and funding commitments
According to Time’s account of the meeting, Trump used his keynote remarks to frame the Board of Peace as proof that a “better future can be built,” announcing that the United States would make a 10‑billion‑dollar contribution and portraying the effort as a model for conflict‑to‑reconstruction transitions.
CBC News reports that nine other contributing countries together have pledged roughly 7 billion dollars in initial financing, aimed at large‑scale reconstruction in Gaza once the conditions of demilitarization and a ceasefire are met.
According to CBC News, Trump also highlighted commitments from international organizations, stating that FIFA plans to raise 75 million dollars for soccer‑related programs in Gaza, while the United Nations is expected to provide around 2 billion dollars in humanitarian support dedicated to urgent aid.
As noted by Al Jazeera and other outlets, the board is also expected to discuss the creation of an International Stabilization Force to operate in Gaza under the parameters of the Trump administration’s 20‑point plan, which includes steps toward disarming Hamas, securing a lasting ceasefire, and constructing an interim governance arrangement.
According to Wikipedia’s overview of the Board of Peace, Trump has been designated chair for life of the body, which was formally launched in 2025 with invitations to roughly 60 national leaders and an evolving set of member states.
What are the implications and what comes next?
According to CBC News, key operational questions remain unresolved, including how and when Hamas might be disarmed, under what conditions Israeli forces would withdraw, how quickly pledged funds will be disbursed, and how humanitarian assistance will reach Gaza’s population amid ongoing security and political challenges.
NPR notes that the board was conceived to oversee Trump’s ceasefire and reconstruction plan for Gaza, but that skepticism from major Western allies and the Vatican could limit its legitimacy and complicate coordination with established international institutions.
According to The Globe and Mail, the administration argues that the breadth of financial pledges and commitments of personnel demonstrate significant international buy‑in, even as several large democracies remain outside the framework.
As reported by Al Jazeera, the outcome of the inaugural meeting is expected to shape the board’s credibility, with observers watching whether promises of funding, peacekeepers, and a viable governance roadmap for Gaza translate into concrete, coordinated actions in the coming weeks and months.
Taken together, Trump’s leadership of the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington marks the formal launch of a large, U.S.‑driven mechanism aimed at funding and steering Gaza’s reconstruction and security, backed by substantial financial commitments but facing notable political resistance and significant unanswered questions about implementation on the ground.
