Trump's Board of Peace Promises Gaza Aid as Residents Doubt Delivery
On February 19, 2026, Trump announced $10bn from the U.S. and $7bn from member countries for Gaza, but residents and experts warned the plans lack timelines, Palestinian input and clear deployment details.
Overview
On February 19, 2026, President Donald Trump said the United States would commit $10 billion and that member countries had pledged $7 billion for Gaza reconstruction and a stabilization force.
Gaza remains devastated after more than two years of war, with the U.N., EU and World Bank estimating roughly $70 billion would be required to rebuild the territory.
Residents in Gaza's displacement camps expressed deep scepticism and despair, saying they have seen past donor pledges fail and 'see nothing' of promised aid, according to multiple on-the-ground accounts.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 72,000 Palestinians killed; the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack killed some 1,200 and left 251 hostage, and critics said key European allies declined to join the board.
Israel says Gaza will not be rebuilt until Hamas lays down weapons, the stabilization force's deployment timeline is unclear, and clearing rubble laced with unexploded ordnance could take several years, U.N. and experts warned.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources emphasize a contrast between Trump’s upbeat Board of Peace presentation and Gaza’s hardship: AP’s headline and lead juxtapose the “rosy” reconstruction imagery with vivid displacement scenes and residents’ despair, while NPR foregrounds funding numbers, legal questions and rhetorical missteps—using placement, emphasis and source selection to cultivate skeptical context.
Sources (13)
FAQ
The Board of Peace, also referred to as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) and Gaza Executive Board, provides strategic oversight for implementing the 20-point Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, mobilizing resources for reconstruction, security, and governance in Gaza.
President Trump announced a U.S. commitment of $10 billion and $7 billion pledged from member countries for Gaza reconstruction and a stabilization force.
Gaza residents in displacement camps express deep skepticism due to past donor pledges that failed to deliver aid, with many saying they 'see nothing' of promised assistance amid ongoing devastation.
Experts and the U.N. warn that rebuilding Gaza faces challenges including lack of timelines, no Palestinian input, unclear deployment details for the stabilization force, rubble clearance taking years due to unexploded ordnance, and an estimated $70 billion total cost.
Israel states that Gaza will not be rebuilt until Hamas lays down its weapons.
History
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