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U.S. President Donald Trump convened the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington on February 19, 2026, bringing together representatives from more than 40 countries.

The meeting, held at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, marked the formal launch of the body, which Trump created last month and chairs. Trump announced that member states have pledged more than $7 billion for Gaza reconstruction and relief, while the United States would contribute an additional $10 billion to the initiative.

Trump addressed a gathering of heads of state, diplomats, and senior officials, describing the group as an unprecedented international body. “This is the most prestigious board ever put together. You know, I’ve seen some great corporate boards. I’ve seen some great boards, period. It’s peanuts compared to this board,” he said.

Delegations from countries including Argentina, Hungary, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam attended the meeting. Israel and several Arab states also participated, sending representatives to the session. More than 40 countries were present in total, with additional observers from a number of others.

France and the United Kingdom did not formally join the Board of Peace but sent observers to the meeting. Officials in several European countries have expressed concerns about the structure and potential membership of the body, including the possibility that Russia could be involved in the future. Germany, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland were also among the countries sending observers rather than full delegations.

With determined leadership, nothing is impossible. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/La2S4oELMg

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 19, 2026

The gathering took place amid questions among some allies about whether the new organization could overlap with or undermine the role of the United Nations. A U.N. Security Council meeting on Gaza was moved earlier in the week to allow diplomats to attend both sessions.

Trump acknowledged concerns about the panel’s long-term role but said it would work alongside the United Nations. “Someday I won’t be here, the United Nations will be, I think, is going to be much stronger.

The Board of Peace is going to be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly,” he said. He added that the United States would work “very closely” with the UN and provide financial support to ensure it remains viable.

Funding Pledges and Reconstruction Plans

Trump said nine countries, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait, had pledged funding toward the Gaza relief and reconstruction effort.

U.S. President Donald Trump described the commitments as an investment in long-term stability in the region. “Every dollar spent is an investment in stability and the hope of a new and harmonious [region],” he said.

The $7 billion pledged by participating states represents a portion of the estimated $70 billion required to rebuild Gaza following two years of war. Trump’s additional $10 billion pledge would bring total commitments associated with the Board of Peace to $17 billion, though details on how U.S. funds would be allocated were not specified.

The Board of Peace structure requires member states to contribute financially, with some provisions indicating that continued membership beyond the first two years would involve additional payments. Trump chairs the body and has said it will maintain continuity beyond his time in office.

Contributions from Member States

The inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace for Gaza drew substantial financial commitments from key international partners, reflecting a broad willingness to support stabilization and reconstruction efforts.

The United States announced a major pledge of $10 billion toward border peace initiatives, underscoring Washington’s intention to play a leading role in the security and governance framework.

Gulf states made significant financial contributions, with the United Arab Emirates committing $1.2 billion, while Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait each pledged $1 billion to support the Board’s long-term peace and recovery agenda.

Beyond direct financial assistance, several countries offered operational and security support aimed at stabilizing conditions on the ground. Indonesia signaled its readiness to deploy more than 8,000 personnel to an international security force, while Turkey indicated its willingness to contribute troops to an International Stabilization Force and assist in police training.

Morocco offered to deploy and train police officers and establish a military field hospital, and Egypt reaffirmed its ongoing efforts to train Palestinian police personnel to strengthen internal security capacity.

A number of states focused their commitments on governance, institutional rebuilding, and administrative modernization. Bahrain proposed providing the infrastructure and technical expertise needed to establish a digital government services platform for Gaza.

Romania offered assistance in reconstructing emergency services, schools, and key institutions, including police and judicial systems. Uzbekistan expressed its commitment to rebuild essential social infrastructure, including schools, childcare facilities, and hospitals, reflecting an emphasis on restoring basic public services.

Humanitarian and economic recovery support also featured prominently in the pledges. Kazakhstan announced its readiness to provide direct financial assistance without delay and to supply wheat as part of a broader food security package. Turkiye also committed to supporting the rehabilitation of the health and education sectors, complementing similar reconstruction-focused initiatives from multiple partners.

Ceasefire Remains Fragile

The meeting comes as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered last October with U.S. involvement, remains fragile.

Palestinian health officials report that more than 600 people in Gaza have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect. Trump acknowledged continued violence but said the broader conflict had effectively ended.

“There are little flames,” he said, while noting that the ceasefire had led to the release of dozens of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that killed more than 1,100 people.

Gaza remains divided, with Israeli forces occupying more than half of the territory. Much of the population is concentrated in coastal areas where humanitarian conditions remain severe.

Plans discussed by the Board of Peace indicate that reconstruction funds would initially be directed toward areas under Israeli military control rather than zones where displaced Palestinians are currently living.

International Stabilization Force

A central element of the next phase of the plan involves deploying an international stabilization force to Gaza. The proposed force would serve as a buffer between Israel and Hamas rather than act as a policing authority within the territory.

Several countries, including Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania, have indicated willingness to contribute troops. Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, said it is prepared to participate in the deployment.

Another key component of the plan centers on the disarmament of Hamas. Israel, the United States, and several Arab states have made disarmament a condition for major reconstruction funding. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas must surrender both heavy weapons and small arms.

Israel has warned that Hamas has 60 days to give up all weapons or face a resumption of full-scale military operations. Such a move could jeopardize the ceasefire and reconstruction effort.

The war in Gaza has left much of the territory devastated and caused tens of thousands of deaths, according to multiple assessments.

Structure and Future Role Debated

The Board of Peace was created out of the ceasefire framework but has already expanded its scope beyond Gaza. Trump suggested the body could take on a broader international role in the future, though details remain unclear.

Some governments have raised concerns that the initiative could function as an alternative diplomatic forum outside existing multilateral institutions. Critics have pointed to the board’s structure, including Trump’s role as chair and the financial requirements for membership, as factors that distinguish it from established organizations such as the United Nations.

There is currently no Palestinian representative on the Board of Peace, despite its central role in Gaza reconstruction planning.

Trump said the initiative aims to stabilize Gaza, prevent renewed conflict, and coordinate international support. He also expressed confidence that Hamas would ultimately disarm, though no formal agreement on disarmament has been reached.

The meeting concluded with participating countries expected to continue negotiations on troop deployments, funding mechanisms, and governance arrangements for reconstruction efforts, as the ceasefire’s durability and the broader political framework for Gaza remain uncertain.

The PEACE President. 🕊️🇺🇸

President Trump delivers remarks at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting at the United States Institute of Peace. pic.twitter.com/2h2CoDUAVU

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 19, 2026