Washington, United States. President Donald Trump will announce a multi-billion-dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza and outline plans for a U.N.-authorized stabilization force at the first formal meeting of his Board of Peace next week, according to two senior U.S. officials.
Meeting in Washington
Delegations from at least 20 countries, including many heads of state, are expected to attend the meeting in Washington, D.C., which Trump will chair on February 19, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The officials said details of Trump’s plans for the first meeting of his Board of Peace for Gaza have not been previously reported.
Creation and international participation
Trump signed documents in Davos, Switzerland, on January 23 establishing the Board of Peace, the officials said. The board’s creation was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Trump’s Gaza plan.
Regional Middle East powers including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as major emerging nations such as Indonesia, have joined the board, the officials said, while global powers and traditional Western U.S. allies have been more cautious.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday during his visit to Washington that Israel has joined the board.
Focus and funding
Trump has stirred concerns that the Board of Peace might seek to resolve other conflicts around the world and compete with the United Nations, but the officials said the meeting next week will focus solely on Gaza.
They said a central part of the meeting will be Trump’s announcement of a multi-billion-dollar fund for Gaza, including monetary contributions from participating board members. One official described the offers as “generous” and said the United States had not made any explicit requests for donations.
“People have come to us offering,” the official said. “The president will make announcements vis a vis the money raised.”
What do you think the Board of Peace meeting will mean for Gaza’s reconstruction plans?