Billions pledged. Troops promised. Hamas still armed. Can Trump’s new “Board of Peace” actually change Gaza — or is the hardest part just beginning?
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to preside over the inaugural meeting of his newly formed “Board of Peace” on Thursday in Washington, bringing together representatives from more than 45 countries to discuss Gaza’s post-war future. The gathering, however, begins under the shadow of unresolved and politically explosive questions.
At the renamed Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace, the president is expected to announce that participating nations have pledged more than $5 billion toward Gaza’s reconstruction. According to U.S. officials, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are each contributing roughly $1.2 billion, forming a substantial portion of the initial fund.
Yet the financial pledges are only a starting point. Rebuilding Gaza after two years of war is projected to require tens of billions of dollars, and key operational details remain unsettled. Among the most contentious issues: the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment timeline of an International Stabilization Force, and the mechanism for distributing humanitarian aid to civilians.
Senior U.S. officials say several countries are prepared to send thousands of troops to participate in the stabilization force. However, its deployment hinges on Hamas relinquishing weapons — a demand the militant group has resisted despite last October’s fragile ceasefire agreement.
The structure of the Board itself has stirred controversy. Israel is represented, but Palestinian officials are not. Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — including France, Britain, Russia and China — are also absent. Critics argue the initiative risks sidelining established multilateral frameworks traditionally led by the United Nations.
Speakers are expected to include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. Former UN diplomat Nickolay Mladenov is also slated to participate.
Behind closed doors, diplomats acknowledge formidable obstacles. Security in Gaza remains fragile. Local policing capacity is limited. Aid distribution channels are described by officials as “disastrous.” Even basic questions — such as who negotiates directly or indirectly with Hamas — remain unresolved.
For Trump, the meeting is both a diplomatic test and a political statement. The pledges offer momentum. But without clarity on enforcement, governance, and demilitarization, the Board of Peace faces a stark reality: money alone cannot stabilize Gaza.
