U.S. President Donald Trump is set to lead the inaugural meeting of his newly formed Board of Peace on Thursday, as major questions linger over Gaza’s future and post-war recovery.
The high-level gathering, expected to draw representatives from more than 45 nations, comes amid unresolved concerns about Hamas’ disarmament, the scale of reconstruction funding, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s war-affected population.
The meeting will take place at the United States Institute of Peace recently renamed by Trump as the Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace.
During the session, Trump is expected to announce that participating countries have collectively pledged $5 billion toward a Gaza reconstruction fund. According to U.S. officials, the sum includes anticipated contributions of $1.2 billion each from the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, both key U.S. allies in the Gulf.
The pledged amount is seen as an initial installment, with officials acknowledging that the total rebuilding effort will require many billions more.
The Board of Peace has drawn criticism for including Israel but excluding Palestinian representatives. Trump’s suggestion that the body could eventually expand its mandate beyond Gaza has also raised concerns among diplomats that it could sideline the United Nations as the primary platform for global diplomacy and conflict resolution.
Notably absent from the event are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, including France, United Kingdom, Russia and China.
However, delegations from 47 countries and the European Union are expected to attend, including Israel and nations ranging from Albania to Vietnam.
Senior U.S. officials said Trump will also reveal plans for several countries to contribute thousands of troops to an International Stabilization Force tasked with maintaining peace in Gaza.
A major obstacle remains the disarmament of Hamas militants — a prerequisite for deploying peacekeepers. The group has reportedly been reluctant to surrender weapons under Trump’s 20-point Gaza proposal, which facilitated a fragile ceasefire last October following two years of conflict.
“We are under no illusions on the challenges regarding demilitarization, but we have been encouraged by what the mediators have reported back,” a senior administration official said.
Speakers expected at the event include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, and High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov.
Despite the diplomatic momentum, significant hurdles remain. One board member, speaking anonymously, said establishing security in Gaza is essential before meaningful reconstruction can begin, noting that the local police force is not yet adequately trained or equipped.
Another unresolved issue is determining who would negotiate directly with Hamas. While the board could engage countries with influence over the group — notably Qatar and Turkey — Israel remains wary of both governments.
Humanitarian aid distribution also presents a pressing challenge. The official described the current aid flow as “disastrous” and said it urgently needs expansion. Even if aid deliveries increase, questions remain over who would manage and distribute assistance on the ground.
As Trump launches the Board of Peace, the initiative represents an ambitious attempt to reshape Gaza’s post-war landscape. Yet with security, funding, diplomacy and humanitarian logistics still unresolved, the effectiveness of the new body will be closely scrutinized in the weeks and months ahead.
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