WASHINGTON – The United States is preparing to host the first high-level meeting of President Donald Trump’s newly formed “Board of Peace” on Gaza later this month, according to a report by Axios.
The gathering is expected to take place on February 19 at the US Institute of Peace in Washington which is just one day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to have a meeting with President Trump at the White House. Officials told Axios that the meeting will focus on the future or Gaza’s administration and rebuilding efforts following months of devastating war.
Sources said:
The event may also serve as a fundraising conference which is aimed at collecting money for Gaza’s reconstruction although plans are still at an early stage and could change in the future.
Sources
Neither the White House nor the US State Department responded to media questions about the reported meeting.
Trump announced the creation of the “Board of Peace” in late January, saying it would help resolve major international conflicts. He chairs the board himself and initially presented it as a body to oversee Gaza’s temporary governance.
A UN Security Council resolution passed in mid-November allowed countries working with the board to help form an international stabilisation force in Gaza. This followed a fragile ceasefire that began in October under a Trump-backed proposal accepted by Israel and Hamas.
Under Trump’s plan, the board would supervise Gaza during a transitional period. However the human rights organisations have criticised the framework and argued that it resembles a colonia style arrangement. They also point out that no Palestinian representatives are included in the board.
The ceasefire has been repeatedly broken since October. More than 550 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have reportedly been killed during this period.
Military campaign in Gaza by Israel began in late 2023 and has left around 71,000 Palestinians dead as stated by the local authorities and has caused displacement of nearly the entire population of the territory. Aid agencies now warn of widespread hunger while multiple rights groups and a UN investigation have described the situation as potentially amounting to genocide. Governments worldwide remain cautious as discussions continue over Gaza’s future with many questioning whether the proposed board can deliver peace in the region.