Trump Says Board of Peace Members Pledge $5B to Rebuild Gaza

The newly created board will officially announce the pledge during its inaugural meeting this Thursday.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

President Donald Trump announced that member states of his newly created Board of Peace have pledged more than $5 billion toward rebuilding Gaza and thousands of personnel to maintain security in the Palestinian enclave. The pledge will be officially announced on Thursday during the inaugural meeting of the board at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C.

Why it matters

The Board of Peace initiative is tied to a U.N.-backed Gaza stabilization and reconstruction plan, but its scope and membership have raised concerns, as it includes countries like Belarus that aided Russia in its war against Ukraine, as well as Israel, whose leader is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

The details

More than 20 countries have joined the board, which Trump formally launched last month on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Specifics on the pledges from each member state were not made public. The board's charter does not mention the Palestinian enclave, and critics worry the initiative might undermine the United Nations. More than 50 nations reportedly received invitations to join, but many U.S. and Western allies have declined.

  • Trump announced the pledge on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • The inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who created the Board of Peace and serves as its chairman.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The leader of Israel, which is a member of the Board of Peace, and the subject of an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Board of Peace

A newly created international body launched by Trump to oversee the reconstruction and stabilization of Gaza.

United Nations

The international organization that has a U.N.-backed plan for Gaza's reconstruction, which the Board of Peace initiative is tied to.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Board of Peace will prove to be the most consequential International Body in History, and it is my honor to serve as its Chairman.”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

What’s next

The inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2026, where the $5 billion pledge will be officially announced.

The takeaway

The Board of Peace initiative raises concerns about its scope, membership, and potential to undermine the United Nations' role in Gaza's reconstruction, even as it promises significant funding for the effort.