Trump’s “Board of Peace” Holds Inaugural Session, Secures $7 Billion Gaza Pledge from 9 Nations
Published Date: 19th Feb, 2026
February 19, 2026
President Donald Trump chaired the first official meeting of the newly formed “Board of Peace” this morning at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., where representatives from more than 40 countries and observer delegations from a dozen others gathered to discuss immediate reconstruction priorities for Gaza and broader mechanisms for ending global conflicts.
In opening remarks broadcast live from the White House briefing room, Trump announced that nine member states had collectively pledged $7 billion toward humanitarian relief and initial rebuilding efforts in Gaza, while five countries agreed in principle to contribute troops to an international stabilization force that would deploy once a permanent ceasefire is secured and verified.
The United States committed $10 billion to the Board’s operations, a figure Trump described as “a very small price compared to the endless cost of war.” He was joined on stage by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, UN Ambassador Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, all of whom Trump credited with designing and launching the initiative.
Trump characterized the Board as “the greatest collection of deal-makers and negotiators ever assembled” and positioned it as an alternative or complement to the United Nations Security Council, which he has repeatedly criticized as “slow, bureaucratic, and ineffective.” The Gaza focus reflects the administration’s ongoing push to convert the current fragile truce into a lasting settlement.
Early Pledges and Stabilization Force
The $7 billion pledge includes contributions from Gulf states, several European governments, and private-sector partners. Details on individual country amounts were not immediately released, but sources familiar with the discussions indicated significant commitments from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
Five nations—reportedly including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, and one unnamed European country—have agreed to provide personnel for a proposed stabilization force that would secure humanitarian corridors, protect reconstruction sites, and assist the Palestinian Authority in restoring basic governance functions in Gaza.
Mixed International Response
The initiative received guarded support from some U.S. allies. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, who attended virtually, described the Board as “a pragmatic step toward regional stability and economic recovery.” The European Union issued a cautious statement welcoming humanitarian funding but expressing concern about the Board’s informal structure and lack of UN Security Council endorsement.
Russia and China declined invitations to participate, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling the Board “an American attempt to bypass legitimate international institutions.” Palestinian officials welcomed the financial pledges but stressed that any stabilization force must operate under Palestinian Authority oversight and not replace existing security arrangements.
Israel has not yet issued an official position on the Board or the proposed stabilization force, though government sources indicated Jerusalem is closely monitoring the initiative and maintains that any Gaza reconstruction plan must include complete demilitarization of Hamas.
The Board of Peace is scheduled to reconvene in March to finalize aid distribution channels, troop deployment protocols, and initial project timelines. Trump indicated that additional conflict zones—potentially including Sudan and Haiti—could be added to the Board’s agenda in future sessions.
Whether the Board can deliver rapid results or becomes another layer of diplomatic bureaucracy remains to be seen. For now, the $7 billion pledge and troop commitments represent the most tangible outcome of the initiative since its announcement last month. Live recordings and official statements from the meeting are available on White House channels and partner media outlets.
Date: 19th Feb, 2026
