.
WASHINGTON:
US President Donald Trump told the first meeting of his peace council on Thursday that nations had contributed $7 billion to a Gaza reconstruction fund aimed at rebuilding the enclave once Hamas disarms, a goal that is far from a reality.
The disarmament of Hamas and the accompanying withdrawal of Israeli troops, the size of the reconstruction fund and the flow of humanitarian aid to the war-torn population of Gaza are among the major issues that are likely to test the effectiveness of the board in the coming months.
In a flurry of announcements at the end of a long, winding speech to representatives from 47 nations, Trump said the United States would contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace.
He said that contributing nations had raised $7 billion as an initial down payment for the reconstruction of Gaza. Nations that contributed included Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait, he said.
Trump proposed the board in September when he announced his plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza. He later made it clear that the board’s mandate would expand beyond Gaza to tackle other conflicts around the world. Trump said FIFA will raise $75 million for soccer-related projects in Gaza and the United Nations will contribute $2 billion for humanitarian aid.
Trump said Norway would host a Board of Peace event, but Norway clarified it was not joining the board.
The Peace Council includes Israel, but not Palestinian representatives. Trump’s suggestion that the board could eventually address challenges outside of Gaza has raised fears that it could undermine the UN’s role as the main platform for global diplomacy and conflict resolution.
“We will strengthen the United Nations,” Trump said, trying to reassure his critics even as the United States is in arrears on payments.
The meeting came as Trump threatens war against Iran and has begun a massive military buildup in the region if Tehran refuses to give up its nuclear program. Trump said he should know in 10 days whether a deal is possible.
“We need to have a meaningful agreement,” he said. Trump said several nations plan to send thousands of troops to join an international stabilization force that will help keep the peace in Gaza when it is eventually deployed.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that his country would contribute up to 8,000 troops to the force “to make this peace work.”
The plan for the force is to begin working in areas Israel controls in the absence of Hamas disarmament. The force, led by an American general with an Indonesian deputy, will start in the Israeli-controlled city of Rafah and train a new police force that eventually aims to train 12,000 police and have 20,000 soldiers.
