Board of Peace, led by US, to convene first summit February 19

• The White House plans the first meeting of the Gaza “Board of Peace” on February 19.
• The meeting will push forward the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and act as a fundraising conference for reconstruction.
• The board has 27 members and is chaired by Donald Trump, authorized by the UN to oversee ceasefire implementation, governance, and reconstruction in Gaza.

The White House is planning a leaders meeting for the Gaza “Board of Peace” on February 19, according to a U.S. official and diplomats from four countries serving on the board cited by Axios. 

The meeting, which could also function as a fundraising conference, is part of efforts to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and raise money for reconstruction.

Read more: Netanyahu meets Trump Feb. 18 ahead of first official session on Gaza council

“It will be the first Board of Peace meeting and a fundraising conference for Gaza reconstruction,” a U.S. official said.

Background: A Controversial Board

The board, unveiled last month, has faced skepticism from many Western allies. Critics were wary of its broad mandate and the fact that President Donald Trump holds sole veto power over its decisions. Some observers argued that Trump was attempting to set up an alternative to the UN Security Council.

Currently, the board has 27 members and is chaired by Trump. The UN Security Council authorized it to oversee the Gaza ceasefire’s implementation and to work on governance and reconstruction.

Logistics: Invitations and Venue

The Trump administration began reaching out to dozens of countries last Friday to invite leaders and discuss logistics. The meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held at the Institute of Peace, recently rebranded in Trump’s honor.

“Nothing has been confirmed yet, but the administration is planning it and has started checking which leaders are able to attend,” one source said.
'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on February 18, a day before the summit. Netanyahu has accepted Trump’s invitation for 'Israel' to join the board but has not yet signed its charter.

If he attends, it would be his first public meeting with Arab and Muslim leaders since before the October 7 events and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Implementation of Gaza Ceasefire Remains Slow

While the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement has officially begun, progress has been limited. 'Israel' has reopened the Rafah crossing with Egypt, but only a small number of Palestinians have been allowed through.

A Palestinian technocratic government has been formed but is still operating from Egypt, as it has not yet entered Gaza. Meanwhile, the Trump administration, along with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, is in early-stage discussions with Hamas to reach a demilitarization agreement.

'Israel' has made clear that reconstruction and withdrawal from Gaza will not proceed without demilitarization.

Demilitarization Plans Under Discussion

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told the Security Council last week that the U.S. aims to launch an “agreed process of decommissioning weapons.” This includes destroying all military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapons-production facilities, under supervision by independent international monitors.

An internationally funded program is planned to “buy back” weapons from Hamas members, some of whom may be integrated into new government security forces.

However, Netanyahu remains skeptical of the U.S. plan, claiming that Trump previously committed that Hamas would have only 60 days to disarm, after which 'Israel' could resume military operations. U.S. officials dispute this timeline, stating the demilitarization process will take significantly longer. Jared Kushner, Trump’s adviser and son-in-law, previously outlined a 100-day plan focused only on initial disarmament.

What to Watch

The upcoming summit will test whether the Board of Peace can gain international legitimacy and push forward both ceasefire implementation and reconstruction funding in Gaza.

Its success will depend on participation from 'Israel', Arab states, and key Western allies, many of whom remain wary of the board’s structure and leadership.