Board of Peace Summit: Trump Announces $7 Billion Fund for Gaza Reconstruction

US President Donald Trump unveiled a major financial and security blueprint for the Gaza Strip during the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" in Washington on Thursday.

Nine member states pledged $7 billion toward a reconstruction fund, while five nations agreed to deploy an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to the war-torn territory.

Funding and Member States:
According to President Trump, nations including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait have committed to the initial fund. Additionally, the US will provide $10 billion in aid to the Board. However, critics argue that the total pledged is far below the estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild Gaza after years of devastating conflict.

International Security Force (ISF):
As part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania have pledged troops for the ISF. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced a contribution of up to 8,000 soldiers. The force, led by a US General with an Indonesian Deputy, will operate from Rafah with a long-term goal of preparing 12,000 police officers and 20,000 soldiers.

Hamas Reaction and Criticism:
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem emphasized that any international force must monitor the ceasefire and prevent further Israeli aggression. While not committing to disarmament, he noted that talks on the issue remain a possibility. The summit has faced criticism for including Israeli representatives while excluding Palestinian voices. Consequently, major powers like Germany, the UK, and Italy participated only as observers rather than full members.