Trump’s new Board of Peace plans February 19 Washington meeting on Gaza governance and reconstruction funding
Washington summit planned as Gaza transition moves into a new phase
A new international body created under a U.S.-backed postwar framework for Gaza is preparing to convene in Washington, D.C., later this month, with organizers planning a first in-person meeting focused on governance arrangements and reconstruction financing for the territory.
The meeting is being planned for February 19, 2026, and has been described by officials involved in the preparations as tentative, with final attendance and agenda still subject to change. The gathering is expected to combine policy discussions with a fundraising component aimed at supporting rebuilding in Gaza after months of conflict and widespread destruction.
What the Board of Peace is, and what mandate it claims
The entity, called the “Board of Peace,” was established as part of a U.S.-led initiative tied to a Gaza ceasefire and transition plan adopted by the United Nations Security Council in late 2025. Under that framework, the board is intended to help supervise a transitional period that includes stabilization, governance support, and reconstruction coordination.
Planning documents and public statements associated with the initiative indicate a layered structure that includes a broader membership of participating states and smaller executive bodies tasked with operational oversight for Gaza-related work. The board is chaired by President Donald Trump, who has presented the initiative as a mechanism for coordinating international political support and financing for a Gaza rebuilding plan.
Participants, optics, and diplomatic sensitivities
Organizers have sought participation from a mix of Middle Eastern and non-regional states. At the same time, several governments have signaled reluctance to join or to formalize membership, reflecting concerns about governance design, the role of external powers, and how participation could be interpreted domestically and internationally.
The meeting is scheduled one day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected at the White House, a timing that could place Gaza’s transition and reconstruction discussions alongside high-level U.S.-Israel diplomacy. Whether Netanyahu would appear at the broader board session has not been confirmed publicly.
Date under planning: February 19, 2026
Primary focus: Gaza reconstruction funding and oversight discussions tied to the transition plan
Unresolved items: final attendee list, detailed agenda, and logistical confirmations
Venue questions and an institutional backstory in Washington
The planned location for the meeting is the U.S. Institute of Peace building in Washington. The site has been at the center of a high-profile dispute in recent years over control of the institution and its assets, including litigation and court rulings that addressed efforts to restructure or dismantle the organization and competing claims about its governance and independence.
The February 19 session is expected to test whether the board can convert a formal mandate and invitations into a stable coalition able to manage reconstruction financing and transitional governance questions for Gaza.
What comes next
Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, the board’s near-term credibility will hinge on whether it can align participating governments around concrete commitments: money, oversight mechanisms, security arrangements, and a workable administrative model for Gaza. With multiple parties holding divergent objectives and timelines, the Washington meeting is shaping up as an early indicator of how the postwar framework may function in practice.