Trump’s Board of Peace Set to Convene in Washington

President Donald Trump is preparing to convene the first working meeting of his newly created Board of Peace in Washington, DC, marking a major step in his administration’s Gaza strategy. According to multiple reports, the meeting is scheduled for February 19 and will bring together dozens of countries involved in what the White House describes as a postwar governance and reconstruction effort for the Gaza Strip.

The Board of Peace is a US led international body tasked with overseeing Gaza’s postwar transition. Its mandate includes governance oversight, reconstruction, humanitarian access, security coordination, and economic development. The board is intended to operate as a temporary governing and supervisory authority, guiding Gaza away from armed conflict and toward long term stability.

The initiative was formally launched with a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. While many countries were invited, fewer than two dozen participated, reflecting early discomfort with the board’s charter and its implications for existing international institutions.

The February 19 gathering in Washington will be the board’s first formal working meeting. While the Davos event established the board on paper, this will be the first time members convene to discuss operational plans, funding, and next steps.

US officials have described the meeting as tentative, noting that details could still change. Invitations have been sent to 26 countries represented on the panel.

The primary purpose of the meeting is to begin coordinating postwar governance of Gaza under the board’s mandate. Diplomats say discussions will focus on reconstruction, humanitarian access, security arrangements, and how a new governing body can eventually replace Hamas in administering the territory.

The meeting is also designed to reinforce the board’s authority following a UN Security Council resolution granting it a two year mandate to oversee postwar management of Gaza.

According to diplomats involved in the planning, the agenda will include easing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, enabling the entry of a new National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and addressing the complex issue of Hamas disarmament. Mediators such as Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey have been discussing gradual disarmament plans, though no formal proposal has yet been presented.

The board’s Gaza envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, has been working on a package of steps aimed at improving humanitarian conditions to give the new governing committee legitimacy. Progress has been slow, with Israeli authorities insisting that only life saving aid be allowed into areas where Hamas remains active.

A Fundraising Event for Reconstruction

The Washington meeting will also function as a major fundraising conference. Officials estimate that several billion dollars will be needed to launch the reconstruction and governance effort. Securing financial commitments from participating countries and international partners is viewed as essential for the board’s credibility and effectiveness.

Diplomats say the overlap between governance discussions and fundraising reflects the Trump administration’s view that security, reconstruction, and investment must move forward together.

The meeting is scheduled for the day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Trump at the White House. Netanyahu’s Washington visit overlaps with the board meeting, increasing expectations that he will attend despite objections to some board members and participating countries.

The timing also coincides with the beginning of Ramadan, which may complicate attendance for some Muslim leaders.

What Critics Are Saying

Critics have compared the Board of Peace to a colonial style administrative authority and accused Trump of trying to sideline the United Nations in favor of a US dominated structure. Some governments have expressed unease with a charter they believe could undermine traditional international diplomacy.

Others remain skeptical that Hamas will disarm or that Israel will agree to further withdrawals from Gaza, casting doubt on whether the board can realistically fulfill its mission.

Supporters See a Break From the Past

Supporters argue that the Board of Peace represents a decisive break from what they view as ineffective ceasefire driven diplomacy. They say the board’s combination of political authority, financial leverage, and international coordination gives it a chance to succeed where previous efforts failed.

Trump has described the board as a historic and prestigious body capable of addressing not only Gaza but other global conflicts in the future.

The February 19 meeting will be an early test of whether Trump’s Board of Peace can move beyond ambitious declarations and into practical action. With governance, security, humanitarian relief, and billions of dollars in reconstruction funding on the line, the Washington gathering will signal how much international support the initiative truly has and whether it can reshape the postwar future of Gaza.