At the inaugural 'Peace Council' in Washington, President Trump announced over $7 billion in pledges and an international stabilization force to rebuild and secure Gaza.
At the inaugural meeting of the "Peace Council" in Washington on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a massive international effort to rebuild the Gaza Strip, securing billions in funding and commitments for a multinational security force. Describing the event as an "exceptional day," Trump declared that the council would turn Gaza into a "prosperous and safe" example of success, according to Al Jazeera.
The White House and participating nations announced a rescue package estimated between $5 billion and $7 billion. Gaza Now broke down the specific pledges made by Gulf nations: UAE: $1.2 billion (confirmed by WAM). Qatar: $1 billion. Saudi Arabia: $1 billion. Kuwait: $1 billion.
Additionally, the U.S. reportedly pledged $10 billion to be channeled through the Council, and FIFA is seeking to raise $75 million for projects. Gaza Now noted that these funds would be strictly "managed and controlled" by the Council itself, ensuring a centralized mechanism for spending.
A core component of the plan involves the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF). According to Al Mayadeen, the Indonesian President committed to contributing 8,000 troops. Ultra Palestine reported that Morocco, Albania, Kosovo, and Kazakhstan have also committed police or military personnel. The vanguard of this force is expected to deploy as early as April, with a mandate to train local police and enable civil governance.
The geopolitical backdrop remains tense. Senior White House advisor Josh Grumbaum told Al Jazeera Palestine that the disarmament of Hamas is a condition for commencing reconstruction. Trump reinforced this, stating that "Hamas will hand over weapons as promised or face harsh consequences."
In a striking revelation regarding regional security, Trump claimed that B-2 bombers had previously "completely destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities," paving the way for peace, and warned that if Iran does not join the peace deal soon, "bad things will happen" (Al Jazeera Palestine).
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Reporting on the "Peace Council" reveals a sharp divide between official state narratives and the perspective of the "resistance" and Palestinian street.
The Official and International Narrative: Sources like Al Jazeera and the UAE's WAM frame the event as a historic breakthrough. The language focuses on "prosperity," "safety," and "exceptional achievements." Trump is portrayed as a decisive leader who has "stopped 8 wars" and is now solving the Gaza crisis through high-level deal-making. The emphasis is on the sheer volume of financial aid and the "commitments" of global leaders to restore normalcy. The Resistance and Skeptical Narrative: Channels like Gaza Now and Sputnik Arabic present a more cynical view. They frequently use the qualifier "so-called" when referring to the Peace Council. Their reporting highlights the conditional and controlled nature of the aid. Gaza Now emphasized that "the money is monitored, the mechanism is set, and the control is central," implying a loss of Palestinian sovereignty.User comments in Gaza Now's chat and Sputnik Arabic reflect deep hostility, with some users referring to Trump and Netanyahu as "Nazis" and dismissing the peace talk as "hollow delirium" if not linked to Palestinian freedom.
The Israeli Perspective (via Palestinian translations): Palestinian outlets like Al Qastal and Asharq News cited Hebrew sources (Walla, Haaretz) to illuminate the Israeli security establishment's view. These reports focus less on the "prosperity" rhetoric and more on the security mechanics: the deployment of the ISF, the disarmament of Hamas, and the notable absence of discussions regarding a Palestinian state. Asharq News cited Haaretz noting that Trump is using political pressure to attract funding while Israel's role in the meeting was secondary, yet the plans align with Israel's demand for demilitarization.The source material consists almost entirely of Arabic-language Telegram channels, with some Hebrew media reports (Walla, Haaretz) appearing only as translations within those Arabic channels. There is a discrepancy in the U.S. financial pledge, with some sources citing $6.5 billion and others $10 billion.