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The president of the United States, Donald Trump, heads this Thursday the first meeting of his 'Peace Board', an initiative initially focused on Gaza that plans to bring together representatives from 47 countries, while several Western powers remain on the sidelines. The meeting will analyze how to launch an International Stabilization Force in Gaza and will announce $5 billion for the reconstruction of the enclave, amid questions about the disarmament of Hamas, the absence of Palestinian representation and the impact of this new body on the role of the UN within the multilateral order.

The essentials:

Below is the most relevant information from the day of February 19 related to the first meeting of Donald Trump's 'Peace Board':

Summary of international contributions to the "Peace Board"

These are some of the contributions announced by the States participating in the "Peace Board", led by Donald Trump for a transitional management of the Gaza Strip.

🇺🇸 United States: will contribute $10 billion, detailed President Donald Trump.

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates: will contribute $1.2 billion, announced Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

🇶🇦 Qatar: will help with 1 billion dollars, said Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: will transfer 1 billion dollars to the "Peace Board" in the coming years, reported the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel Al-Jubeir.

🇮🇩 Indonesia: will deploy 8,000 or more troops to form an international security force for Gaza, said President Prabowo Subianto.

Milei offers White Helmets help for stabilization force in Gaza

The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, made the support of his country's White Helmets "at the disposal" of the 'Peace Board' for Gaza, with a view to forming a stabilizing mission in the Palestinian enclave.

"Argentina participates in this council with the conviction that peace requires political decision and an institutional architecture capable of sustaining real solutions over time," Milei declared on Thursday, during the first meeting of the organization in Washington.

The body of the Argentine Foreign Ministry dedicated to the logistics of humanitarian assistance, emergency response and comprehensive disaster risk management is known as the White Helmets.

Argentina has positioned itself as one of Trump's closest allies within the 'Peace Board', by joining as a founding member.

Javier Milei, at the US Institute of Peace, this Thursday.

Some 2,000 Palestinians apply to join transitional police force for Gaza

In just hours, some 2,000 Palestinians enlisted to form the new transitional police force for Gaza, after applications opened this Thursday, reported Nickolay Mladenov, a senior official of the 'Peace Board' at the inaugural session in Washington.

The Washington-led multilateral body for the governance of Gaza plans to train and deploy a new 5,000-member "transitional" Palestinian police force.

The Bulgarian politician explained that this security body will be in charge of "guaranteeing the dismantling of all factions in Gaza and the control of all weapons under a single civil authority."

Earlier, US Army Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers stated that Egypt and Jordan have "committed to training police."

Trump closes the "Peace Board" with the promise to "rehabilitate" the UN

Trump ended the inaugural meeting of the so-called Gaza Peace Board with a promise to "rehabilitate" the United Nations, an organization that the Republican has constantly attacked and even called "ineffective."

The American president stated that his country "will collaborate again with the United Nations" and spoke of "fixing even the building", months after getting stuck on the escalators at the entrance to the General Assembly.

"I like to see beautiful buildings. I like to see buildings fixed up, not looking like they're in disrepair," Trump said. "We don't like that. So we're going to collaborate with the United Nations."

"Junta" billionaire predicts that Gaza reconstruction will begin in Rafah

Billionaire investor Marc Rowan, a member of the executive committee of the "Peace Board", stated that the reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave would begin in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.

He explained that 100,000 homes were planned for 500,000 people, about a quarter of Gaza's population, along with $5 billion in infrastructure. He added that, over time, 400,000 new homes were planned for the entire population of Gaza, with $30 billion in infrastructure projects.

However, he did not specify when construction would begin.

"It is not a problem of money or guarantees (...) It is a problem of peace," he declared.

There will be no reconstruction of Gaza until Hamas disarms: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment that Gaza will not be rebuilt until Hamas disarms.

“We agree with our friends in the United States: there will be no reconstruction of the Gaza Strip before its demilitarization,” he declared in a speech to graduating officers at a military base in southern Israel.

"Soon, Hamas will face a dilemma: disarm by hook or by crook. But it will be disarmed, and Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel," he noted.

Trump pledges US$10 billion to Gaza Peace Board

"I want you to know that the US is going to make a contribution of 10 billion dollars to the Peace Board," said the US president in reference to the body he created, initially for Gaza, but which he now intends to extend to the "resolution" of all conflicts in the world. An approach that causes concern among different governments who point out that this would replace the role of the United Nations.

"It seems like a lot, but it is a small figure compared to what a war costs. Two weeks of fighting costs much more money," he added.

The White House leader has not informed his country's Congress about where these funds would come from.

"They must make an agreement, but very bad things will happen if this does not happen": Trump on the Iran agreement

"It is time for Iran to join us on a path to peace, they cannot continue destabilizing the region, they must make an agreement, but very bad things will happen if this does not happen," he remarked.

"We are getting very good people for a reliable police force in Gaza": Donald Trump

"I am pleased to announce that FIFA will help raise $75 billion for projects in Gaza": Trump

"I want to save lives and I'm not worried about awards": Trump after repeating that he should have won the Nobel Peace Prize

"Norway has agreed to host an event for the 'Peace Board': Donald Trump

"We have to solve the Lebanon problem": Trump

"They have contributed more than $7 billion to a relief package": Trump in reference to Gaza

Before representatives from almost 50 countries, President Donald Trump announced this Thursday at the inaugural meeting of the "Peace Board" that nine members agreed to contribute a total of $7 billion for an aid package to Gaza.

The countries that have made the promises are Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait, according to Trump.

The amount, while significant, represents only a fraction of the estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild the Palestinian territory devastated by Israel's attacks, where a precarious ceasefire agreement looms over Trump's ambitions for his junta to rival the United Nations in resolving global conflicts.

"Iran cannot have nuclear weapons": Donald Trump

"The meetings with the people of Iran have been good, but we have to get a meaningful deal or bad things will happen": Donald Trump

🔴 Live: Donald Trump intervenes at the first meeting of the "Peace Board" in Washington

France is surprised by the presence of the European Commission in the Peace Board

France expressed this Thursday, February 19, its surprise at the sending of a European Commission official to the 'Peace Board' in Washington, alleging that he did not have the mandate to represent the member states, according to its spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In statements to the press, Pascal Confavreux stated that, as far as Paris was concerned, the 'Peace Board' had to focus on Gaza, in accordance with a United Nations Security Council resolution, and that France would not participate until that ambiguity was resolved.

"As for the European Commission and its participation, it actually surprises us because it does not have the mandate of the Council to participate," he declared.

Gaza: The Israeli army maintains that Hamas is strengthening its control in the enclave

Hamas would be strengthening its dominance over the Gaza Strip by appointing like-minded people to key positions in administration, collecting taxes and paying salaries, according to an assessment by the Israeli army seen by Reuters and sources inside the enclave.

In a document presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the end of January, the armed forces indicated that the Islamist group is incorporating sympathizers in government agencies, security forces and local authorities.

However, Hamas says it is willing to transfer administration of the territory to a US-backed committee of Palestinian technocrats led by Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority official in the occupied West Bank.

Two Palestinian sources with direct knowledge of the group's internal workings say Hamas has appointed five district governors, all with ties to the al-Qassam Brigades, its armed wing; and has replaced senior officials in Gaza's Economy and Interior ministries, responsible for fiscal management and security.

Trump allies will attend, including Orbán and Milei

The inaugural meeting will bring together Trump's ideological allies, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who faces a close re-election battle, and Argentine President Javier Milei.

Other leaders present will include some seeking closer ties with Washington, such as Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has tried to win Trump's backing in his country's conflict with India.

Japan, usually one of Washington's staunchest allies, has not yet decided whether it will join the council and send an envoy in charge of Gaza-related issues.

With information from EFE, AFP, Reuters, AP and local media

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