US President Donald Trump says a newly formed international “Board of Peace” will unveil more than US$5 billion in pledges for Gaza reconstruction and humanitarian support when it meets in Washington on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The announcement comes as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains fragile, with sporadic violence continuing despite the truce that began in October.
According to reporting from Reuters and the Associated Press, the Board of Peace is a coalition of more than 20 countries that the Trump administration says is backed by a UN Security Council resolution supporting a broader peace plan. Reuters reports the group includes a mix of regional and “emerging power” participants, naming countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, and Indonesia among those involved. The first meeting is expected to formalise both funding pledges and operational commitments tied to security and stabilisation in Gaza.
The US$5 billion figure is being framed as an initial tranche for immediate humanitarian relief and early-stage rebuilding, not a full reconstruction package. That matters because the overall cost to rebuild Gaza is widely assessed to be far higher. The AP reports reconstruction has been estimated at roughly US$70 billion by international institutions, putting the Board’s pledge in the category of seed funding rather than a complete solution. Some outlets have also circulated different topline numbers, underlining that details such as which countries are donating, how funds are structured, and what conditions apply are still unclear ahead of the summit.
Beyond money, Reuters and the AP report the plan includes an international stabilisation and policing element, described as a UN-authorised force intended to support security and local law enforcement in Gaza. Indonesia’s military has indicated it may deploy up to 8,000 troops by June as part of a humanitarian mission, which would be one of the first concrete personnel commitments tied to the initiative. At the same time, the AP notes some traditional US allies are wary of the Board, viewing it as an attempt to sidestep or reshape existing UN-led channels, while reporting also points to controversy around holding the first meeting at a renamed Trump-linked Institute of Peace amid legal disputes.
The timing is deliberate. With ceasefire violations and clashes still being reported, Trump’s team appears to be trying to pair reconstruction funding with a security architecture that can hold the line on the ground. Supporters argue that combining cash, regional buy-in, and stabilisation forces is the fastest path to prevent a return to full-scale war. Critics counter that pledges without transparent governance, enforceable access guarantees, and broad diplomatic legitimacy risk becoming symbolic, or could intensify disputes over who controls Gaza’s future.
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