President Donald Trump opened the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace on Thursday with a major financial breakthrough, announcing that nine member nations have collectively pledged $7 billion toward a comprehensive relief package for the Gaza Strip.
The announcement marks the first concrete action from the newly formed body, which Trump has positioned as a high-velocity alternative to traditional international diplomacy.
The donor group consists of a coalition of Middle Eastern and Central Asian nations, including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait. These countries, many of whom have long-standing ties to the region’s stability, are backing a plan that Trump describes as a business-minded approach to peace.
“Every dollar spent is an investment in stability and the hope of a new and harmonious region,” Trump told the gathered delegates, thanking the nine nations for their commitments. “The Board of Peace is showing how a better future can be built, starting right here in this room.”
The $7 billion sum is a substantial injection of capital, yet it highlights the sheer scale of the challenge ahead. United Nations experts and independent analysts estimate that total reconstruction for Gaza—which has seen two years of devastating conflict—will cost upwards of $70 billion. While today’s pledges are a significant start, they cover only about 10% of the projected need for housing, hospitals, and basic infrastructure.
In a move that further emphasized the U.S. role in the project, Trump also announced a $10 billion American pledge to the Board of Peace. However, the administration did not immediately provide a breakdown of how those funds would be allocated, leaving it unclear whether the money is destined for Gaza specifically or for the board’s broader global mission.
The meeting took place against a backdrop of some international skepticism. While dozens of countries attended as members or observers, several major European powers and traditional U.S. allies remained on the sidelines. These nations have raised concerns that the board’s “pay-to-play” model—which reportedly requires a $1 billion donation for permanent status—and its lack of a term-limited leadership structure could undermine the United Nations.
Despite these criticisms, the atmosphere inside the summit was one of active deal-making. For the founding members, the board represents a way to bypass the gridlock of the UN Security Council. For Trump, the successful fundraising round is a validation of his “peace through investment” strategy. As the meeting continues, the focus remains on whether this coalition can turn these billions into tangible results on the ground.
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