Trump's Board Mobilizes $5 Billion for Gaza Rebuild, Contingent on Hamas Demilitarization

This initiative, initially envisioned as a small group to oversee a Gaza ceasefire, has expanded to include dozens of nations, with a meeting scheduled for February 19, 2026, at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. During this meeting, member states are expected to formally announce the financial commitment and the deployment of thousands of personnel for an International Stabilization Force and Local Police in Gaza. A crucial condition for the plan's success, as stated by Trump, is Hamas's "Full and Immediate Demilitarization." The article highlights that Trump claims the Board's vision was unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council and that it facilitated humanitarian aid and hostage releases.

However, the initiative faces scrutiny, with European nations expressing concern over the invitation extended to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Arab states angered by the inclusion of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is also expected to join the executive board, drawing criticism due to his past involvement in the Iraq war.

Countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Hungary, Pakistan, and the UAE have reportedly committed to joining. The article notes that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, agreed upon last year, has seen repeated violations and significant casualties on both sides.