ALBAWABA- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday formally launched the “Board of Peace,” a new U.S.-led initiative aimed at stabilizing Gaza and advancing broader Middle East diplomacy, during a high-profile event at the White House attended by regional and international leaders.
In his keynote address, Trump praised Qatar’s role in mediating the October 2025 Gaza ceasefire alongside Egypt and the United States, crediting Doha’s diplomacy with helping to end nearly two years of fighting that left more than 70,000 people dead.
He announced reconstruction pledges exceeding $5 billion, outlining plans to rebuild infrastructure and develop large-scale economic projects, including tourism and coastal facilities, to transform Gaza’s battered economy.
The Board of Peace, established following UN Security Council Resolution 2803, is tasked with overseeing the second phase of Trump’s 20-point Gaza framework.
The plan предусматриes the formation of a Palestinian technocratic council and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force to secure the territory during a transitional period before responsibilities are handed to restructured local forces.
U.S. officials say the body’s mandate could extend to facilitating dialogue in other regional conflicts, positioning it as a new diplomatic mechanism led by Washington.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about the board’s governance structure, including the scope of U.S. authority within it, arguing that it may sideline existing multilateral frameworks.
Trump also used the occasion to issue a fresh warning to Iran, stating that the United States would consider military action if Tehran does not reach a nuclear agreement in the near term.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly conveyed a 10-day window for progress during parallel diplomatic engagements.
The warning comes after a second round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva ended without a breakthrough, despite limited progress and reported Iranian proposals that stopped short of dismantling its enrichment program.
