US, Allies Gather as Trump Kicks Off ‘Board of Peace’ Meeting Focused on Gaza
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 18: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Black History Month reception in the East Room of the White House on February 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president issued a proclamation recognizing Black History Month on Feb. 3. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump convened the inaugural meeting of the controversial Board of Peace on Thursday, drawing representatives from more than 20 countries to Washington to discuss post-war recovery and stabilisation in the Gaza Strip. The gathering comes amid mixed reactions from global partners and renewed calls for urgent progress in the Middle East.
Trump, who chairs the Board, said member states have pledged more than $5 billion towards Gaza’s humanitarian and reconstruction efforts — a fraction of the estimated needs but viewed by organisers as a sign of international commitment. Delegates have also committed personnel, including police and stabilisation forces, to support a fragile ceasefire and security operations in the territory.
A central topic at the meeting is the disarmament of Hamas, part of the United States’ broader peace plan, which links reconstruction progress to the demilitarisation of the Palestinian militant group. Trump’s team emphasised that stabilising the region and preventing future conflict hinges on dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities, though concrete agreements remain elusive.
The Board’s agenda also includes discussions on establishing an international stabilisation force tasked with maintaining security in Gaza as part of transitional governance arrangements. Indonesia has indicated readiness to contribute troops to the mission, highlighting regional interest in the initiative’s security component.
While several countries aligned with Trump’s vision are participating, key Western allies have expressed reservations or opted out, citing concerns that the Board could overlap with or undermine the United Nations’ diplomatic role. Some nations have instead insisted reconstruction and peace efforts should remain anchored in established multilateral frameworks.
The Board of Peace was launched publicly in January 2026 during the World Economic Forum in Davos as part of Trump’s 20-point peace strategy for Gaza, an effort that has both supporters and sceptics on the global stage.
As the meeting progresses, attention will remain on whether the Board can translate pledges into tangible relief on the ground and bridge diplomatic divides on how best to secure a lasting peace for Gaza and beyond.
