Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a newly established international body, referred to as the “Peace Council,” will unveil more than $5 billion in pledged funding for humanitarian relief and reconstruction in Gaza during its inaugural meeting in Washington this week.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the council’s first official gathering, scheduled for February 19, 2026, would mark what he described as a “turning point” for the future of Gaza. The meeting is set to take place at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, which Trump recently renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute for Peace.
According to the president, member states of the Peace Council have committed more than $5 billion to support humanitarian operations and long-term reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition to financial pledges, he said thousands of personnel would be allocated to an international stabilization force and local policing units aimed at maintaining security.
“We will announce that member nations have pledged more than $5 billion to support humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Gaza,” Trump wrote, adding that participating countries have “designated thousands of personnel for the international stabilization force and local police to maintain security and peace for the people of Gaza.”
The announcement comes amid ongoing devastation in Gaza following months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has left critical infrastructure severely damaged and humanitarian conditions dire. International aid agencies have repeatedly warned that reconstruction will require sustained multilateral coordination and security guarantees to ensure effective implementation.
A Conditional Commitment
Trump coupled the financial announcement with a firm demand directed at Hamas, stating that any durable stabilization effort would depend on the group’s “full and immediate disarmament.” He framed the Peace Council as potentially “the most important international body in history,” and said he was honored to serve as its chair.
“It is imperative that Hamas commit to full and immediate disarmament,” Trump wrote, emphasizing that security guarantees would be central to the initiative’s credibility.
Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and several other countries, has historically rejected calls for disarmament, viewing its armed wing as integral to its political leverage and resistance posture. Analysts note that requiring complete disarmament as a precondition could complicate diplomatic engagement and delay implementation of reconstruction plans.
Questions Surrounding the Council’s Broader Mandate
The Peace Council’s formation has raised questions about its institutional structure, membership composition, and long-term mandate. While Trump described it as a global conflict-resolution body, few details have been publicly released regarding its charter, governance framework, or how it would coordinate with existing international mechanisms such as the United Nations.
Invitations to the February 19 meeting were reportedly sent earlier this month to selected governments and partners. Observers say the scale of pledged funding if fully realized, would represent one of the largest coordinated reconstruction commitments to Gaza in recent years. However, translating pledges into disbursed funds has historically proven challenging in post-conflict environments.
Humanitarian and Strategic Dimensions
Gaza faces immense reconstruction needs, including housing, hospitals, schools, water systems, and power infrastructure. Previous donor conferences have generated billions in pledges, though delivery timelines have often been affected by political disputes, security concerns, and administrative constraints.
By linking financial commitments to a broader security framework involving an international stabilization presence, the proposed initiative appears designed to address long-standing concerns among donor states regarding oversight, security, and the prevention of renewed conflict.
Whether the Peace Council will emerge as a durable diplomatic mechanism or remain a limited initiative tied to a single reconstruction effort may depend on participation from major regional and international actors, as well as progress toward a sustainable ceasefire and political settlement.
As Thursday’s inaugural meeting approaches, attention will focus on which countries formally commit funds, how the stabilization force would be structured, and whether the conditions outlined by Washington can gain broader international backing in a region marked by deep political divisions and fragile security dynamics.
