The short version
- The Board of Peace announced a six-month reconstruction initiative worth $2.45 billion focused on housing, energy, and waste management in Gaza.
- Despite billions in global pledges, only a fraction of the funds have been transferred, leaving a substantial financial shortfall for long-term recovery efforts.
- Political tensions persist as Israeli leadership rejects full Hamas disarmament terms while ceasefire violations continue to cause casualties on both sides.
A new international effort to rebuild Gaza has moved from theoretical planning to initial implementation, with the release of a specific funding strategy designed to address immediate humanitarian and infrastructure needs. The Board of Peace, an entity established under the auspices of former US President Donald Trump, presented a recovery plan valued at $2.45 billion during a gathering on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This initial phase is scheduled to unfold over six months and encompasses sixty-six distinct programs aimed at stabilizing essential services.
The immediate priorities identified by the board include the restoration of housing, the provision of diesel for power generation, and the removal of waste accumulating from years of conflict. These sectors were chosen to address the most pressing daily survival needs of the population while laying groundwork for more extensive structural repairs. The scope of these early interventions is narrow but critical, serving as a bridge between emergency relief and long-term development.
Financial realities present a stark contrast to the ambitious timeline proposed by the board. While international partners have committed approximately $18 billion toward Gaza’s recovery, only $280 million has actually been disbursed to date. This discrepancy highlights the difficulty of converting diplomatic pledges into liquid capital for reconstruction projects. The board estimates that fully restoring the territory will require roughly $71.4 billion over the next ten years, a figure that underscores the magnitude of the economic challenge ahead.
Leadership within the board acknowledged these logistical and financial hurdles openly during the meeting. Jared Kushner, who serves as a member of the Gaza Executive Board, noted that various delays have impacted different aspects of the project without specifying the exact causes. He emphasized that the primary objective of the current announcement was to demonstrate a firm commitment to proceeding with reconstruction efforts despite the obstacles. His comments reflected a pragmatic approach to managing expectations among stakeholders and the public.
US envoy Steve Witkoff joined Kushner in New York, offering a more optimistic assessment of recent developments. He described the progress made over the past year as substantial, citing the return of all hostages and the maintenance of a ceasefire, albeit an imperfect one. Witkoff highlighted the historic nature of humanitarian achievements achieved thus far, pointing to the billions donated and pledged as evidence of sustained international support for Gaza’s recovery.
Beyond fundraising, the board faces complex operational challenges that extend beyond finance. Ensuring security for workers entering Gaza remains a significant concern, as does the need to overhaul internal governance structures within the territory. Finding consensus between Israeli officials and Palestinian representatives continues to be a difficult diplomatic task. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that while several countries have stepped forward with financial promises, the board is actively seeking additional participants to broaden the coalition supporting these efforts.
The political landscape surrounding the reconstruction remains fraught with tension. In August, Nickolay Mladenov, a senior official on the Board of Peace, criticized ongoing Israeli air strikes in Gaza as well as actions taken by Hamas. He warned that a collapse of the ceasefire agreed upon last October would represent a point of no return for regional stability. These comments illustrate the delicate balance the board must maintain between criticizing violations and maintaining cooperation with all parties involved.
Casualty figures reported since the ceasefire began highlight the fragility of the current truce. According to Gaza’s health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable, at least 1,381 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, including three hundred children. The Israeli military reports that five of its soldiers were killed in combat during this period, along with one contractor who died in an operational accident. These losses underscore the human cost of continued hostilities despite diplomatic efforts to halt them.
The Board of Peace was originally conceived as part of a twenty-point peace plan unveiled by Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last September. The initial framework included provisions for Hamas to release remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees, as well as a transition of Gaza’s governance to technocrats. While Hamas reportedly accepted a disarmament plan contingent on an end to aggression and Israeli withdrawal, Netanyahu rejected this condition, insisting that military forces remain until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.
As the board moves forward with its initial funding phase, the path to lasting peace remains uncertain. The divergence between pledged support and actual contributions, combined with ongoing security disputes and political disagreements, suggests that reconstruction will be a protracted process. The coming months will likely test the resilience of the ceasefire and the ability of international actors to deliver on their financial commitments in a volatile environment.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC World↗Trump's Board of Peace unveils $2.45bn plan to begin Gaza's reconstruction
