TRUMP ANNOUNCES $5 BILLION PLEDGE FOR GAZA RECONSTRUCTION

Mon 16 February 2026:

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that his newly established Board of Peace secured $5 billion in pledges to rebuild war-devastated Gaza and commitments of thousands of personnel for an international stabilization and police mission. The pledges will be formally announced at the board’s inaugural meeting in Washington on Thursday.

Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan, reporting from Washington, DC, said that “there are reports that the United Arab Emirates has been the first to step forward with this billion-dollar pledge”.

She said that “there are also reports that Kuwait may be coming on board”, leaving three other countries that are not publicly known yet.

Trump did not specify how many of the board’s 20 members would be in attendance at the meeting.

Trump also said in his post that “Hamas must uphold its commitment to Full and Immediate Demilitarization”.

Hamas’s Qassem, meanwhile, called on the Board of Peace to pressure Israel to stop violating the ceasefire and “compel it to implement what was agreed upon without delay or manipulation”.

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$5 Billion in Initial Reconstruction Commitments

In a social media statement, Trump described the Board of Peace as potentially “the most consequential international body in history” and said he was honored to serve as its chairman. He did not specify which member states are contributing funds or personnel.

The board includes more than 20 members, though it remains unclear how many will attend the first session. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met Trump at the White House last week, is not expected to participate in the gathering.

Indonesia Signals 8,000-Troop Readiness

Indonesia’s military announced Sunday that up to 8,000 troops could be prepared by the end of June for possible deployment to Gaza as part of a humanitarian and peace mission. The statement marks the first firm military commitment secured by the Republican president for the proposed stabilization force.

Under the Oct. 10 U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, an armed international stabilization force is envisioned to maintain security and oversee the disarmament of Hamas fighters — a central demand of Israel. So far, few countries have publicly expressed willingness to contribute troops.

A $70 Billion Reconstruction Challenge

Rebuilding Gaza presents a formidable financial and logistical challenge. The United Nations, World Bank and European Union estimate that total reconstruction costs could reach $70 billion. After more than two years of Israeli bombardment, large swaths of the Gaza Strip have been left in ruins.

Although the Oct. 10 ceasefire significantly reduced the heaviest fighting in the more than two-year conflict, Israeli forces have continued periodic airstrikes and frequently open fire near military-controlled zones, according to reports from the territory.

Broader Mandate and Global Implications

Initially perceived as a mechanism focused solely on ending the Israel-Hamas war, the Board of Peace has evolved into what Trump envisions as a broader platform for resolving global crises. The initiative appears to reflect Washington’s effort to reshape elements of the post-World War II international order and, potentially, to sidestep the United Nations framework.

Several key U.S. allies in Europe and elsewhere have declined to join the body, citing concerns that it may function as a parallel structure to the UN Security Council.

Source: Independent Press and News Agencies

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