Trump's Board of Peace Convenes for Gaza Reconstruction

President Donald Trump convened the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington, bringing together representatives from over 40 countries and observers from a dozen more. The primary focus of the summit is the reconstruction of the war-battered Palestine===Gaza Strip, with members pledging $5 billion towards the estimated $70 billion needed for rebuilding. Key financial commitments include $1.2 billion each from the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Discussions also center on establishing an international stabilization force to ensure security and the disarmament of Hamas, a critical demand from Israel. Indonesia is the only country to have firmly committed troops to this force, while Hamas has shown reluctance to disarm. Trump's expanded vision for the Board of Peace, aiming to resolve global conflicts beyond the Palestine===Gaza Strip, has sparked concerns among some U.S. allies and the United Nations, with fears it could undermine the UN's role. Several permanent UN Security Council members, including France, Britain, Russia, and China, are not attending. The Vatican City also expressed concerns, stating the United Nations should primarily manage such crises. The lack of Palestinian representation, despite Israel's membership, remains a controversial point. Speakers at the event include Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Tony Blair, and Mike Waltz. The event highlights ongoing challenges in humanitarian aid distribution and the need for a functioning government system in the Palestine===Gaza Strip.