White House to Convene Inaugural 'Board of Peace' Session on February 19, 2026, to Fund Gaza Reconstruction

The inaugural session of the 'Board of Peace' (BoP) is scheduled for February 19, 2026, in Washington, D.C., following an initiative by the administration of President Donald Trump. The primary objective of this gathering is to mobilize international resources and secure funding for the extensive reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. This event marks the commencement of the second phase of President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to resolve the Gaza conflict, which was initially announced in the latter months of 2025.

The meeting is expected to take place at the Donald Trump Institute for Peace, housed in the facility formerly occupied by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). This building, a notable work by architect Moshe Safdie completed in 2011, will host the delegates just one day after the scheduled meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump on February 18, 2026. If Prime Minister Netanyahu attends the BoP session, it will represent his first public appearance alongside leaders from various Arab and Muslim nations since the attacks on October 7, 2023.

Established under the authority of UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which was adopted on November 17, 2025, the 'Board of Peace' was created to endorse and facilitate the Comprehensive Plan for ending the Gaza conflict. The resolution empowers the BoP to manage the coordination of financing and provide administrative oversight for Gaza’s redevelopment until the Palestinian Authority (PA) completes its internal reform process. It is worth noting that Resolution 2803 passed with 13 affirmative votes, while China and Russia chose to abstain, reflecting a lack of total unanimity within the Security Council.

The Executive Board of the BoP is chaired by Donald Trump and includes high-profile figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. On a practical level, the day-to-day technocratic management of Gaza is handled by the National Committee for Administrative Governance (NCAG), which operates under the leadership of Dr. Ali Shaath. A central priority for the February 19 meeting is the establishment of a robust funding stream, with initial requirements estimated to be at least several billion dollars to initiate the reconstruction process.

However, the organizational structure of the BoP has faced criticism from various quarters. Observers have pointed to the lack of direct Palestinian representation in the founding documents and the fact that all major Council decisions require the personal approval of Donald Trump. Additionally, critics have expressed concern that the Council might undermine the traditional diplomatic role of the United Nations by positioning itself as a global conflict resolution mechanism outside of the UN's standard framework. The implementation of this second phase faces significant institutional hurdles, particularly regarding the concentration of power and the perceived lack of inclusivity for Palestinian voices.