Trump: Board of Peace Members Pledge Troops, Billions for Gaza

United States President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, February 15, 2026, that member states of his newly formed 'Board of Peace' have pledged to commit 'thousands of personnel' to an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and local police in the Gaza Strip. This significant declaration also includes commitments exceeding $5 billion towards humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts for the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave. The formal announcement of these pledges is anticipated at the first official meeting of the Board of Peace, scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington D.C.. The 'Board of Peace' (BoP) is an international organization spearheaded by Donald Trump, initially proposed in September 2025 and formally established on the sidelines of the 56th World Economic Forum in January 2026. Its stated mission is to promote global peacekeeping and, more specifically, to oversee various processes related to the Gaza peace plan, including reconstruction and maintaining security. The establishment of the Board and its mandate to deploy a temporary peacekeeping force were endorsed by a United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 in November 2025. While Trump's statement on Sunday mentioned 'thousands of personnel,' the first concrete commitment regarding troops has come from Indonesia. The Indonesian military announced that up to 8,000 of its troops are expected to be ready by the end of June for a potential deployment to Gaza as part of a humanitarian and peace mission, marking the initial firm pledge of military personnel to the proposed force. Other countries' specific contributions to the stabilization force were not detailed by Trump in his announcement. President Trump emphasized that the Board of Peace holds 'unlimited potential' and is poised to become 'the most consequential International Body in History'. He also reiterated a crucial demand that Hamas 'must uphold its commitment to full and immediate demilitarization'. However, Hamas officials have reportedly denied making such a commitment and have vowed to retain their weapons. The Board's creation has not been without controversy. Critics have likened it to a 'pay-to-play club,' arguing that it is centered more on Trump's affairs than on the immediate tasks in Gaza. The requirement for permanent members to contribute $1 billion to join has drawn particular scrutiny. Furthermore, the initiative is seen by some as an attempt by Trump to sidestep or even rival the United Nations and reshape the post-World War II international order. Several traditional US allies in Europe and elsewhere have reportedly declined invitations to join the Board. Conversely, a number of countries, predominantly from the Middle East, have signed the Board's charter or indicated their participation, including Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE. The deployment of an armed international stabilization force is a key component of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which took effect in October after more than two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. This force is intended to maintain security, ensure the disarmament of Hamas, and support the newly established technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which is tasked with the enclave's daily governance and is not tied to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. The estimated cost for the comprehensive reconstruction of Gaza is a daunting $70 billion, according to assessments by the United Nations, World Bank, and European Union. India, which received an invitation to join the Board of Peace, is currently reviewing the offer. The Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, is confirmed to attend the upcoming Board of Peace meeting.

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