The Board of Peace, an international body that the president officially inaugurated earlier this year, convened for the first time as a cease-fire in Gaza holds precariously, with discussions focused on reconstruction assistance, humanitarian efforts, and an international peacekeeping force for the war-torn strip.
Leading up to the meeting, Trump revealed that member countries of the Board had promised $5 billion for the reconstruction efforts in Gaza. This is separate from the $10 billion pledged by the U.S. To support the initiative.
Included in the agenda for the meeting are issues like member states contribution of troops and police for an impending stabilization effort, and finding ways to overcome complex issues like the total disarmament of Hamas. Israel is a member of the Board; Palestine is not among the principal members of the group.
Despite the president’s proclamations of cooperation and peace, the Board of Peace has come under fire from many of his traditional allies. The United Kingdom, France, and Germany are among the major European countries that have refused to take an official part in the Board, instead only sending observers, citing concerns over its mandate and relation to existing institutions like the United Nations.
While Trump expressed his hope that the creation of the Board would be a ” step toward peace and stability,” significant diplomatic and practical hurdles persist in turning promises on paper into on-the-ground reality, according to analysts.