Trump's Board of Peace Pledges $17 Billion for Gaza

President Donald Trump convened the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, announcing $7 billion in pledges from nine nations (Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Kuwait) for a Gaza relief package, in addition to a $10 billion pledge from the United States. Five countries (Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Albania) committed troops for an international stabilization force in the Gaza Strip, with Egypt and Jordan offering police training. The board, initiated as part of Trump's 20-point peace plan, aims to rebuild the war-battered Palestinian territory and ensure the disarmament of Hamas, a key demand from Israel. Trump's expanded vision for the Board of Peace to resolve global conflicts has raised concerns about it potentially rivaling the United Nations, though Trump asserts it will strengthen the UN. High-level officials from over 40 countries and the European Union attended, with some leaders like Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Argentinian President Javier Milei, and Hungarian President Viktor Orbán present. Observers included Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The UN Security Council moved its meeting to accommodate the Board of Peace summit, and the Vatican expressed concerns about the UN's role in crisis management. The administration remains under no illusions about the challenges of demilitarization but is encouraged by mediator reports.