The long-awaited inaugural meeting of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is scheduled for February 19. The agenda will cover the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire and raising funds to rebuild the devastated territory.

Trump announced the board’s formation last month at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Its founding members are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Turkey, Hungary, Morocco, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Argentina, Paraguay, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

However, numerous key U.S. allies hesitated to join, concerned the board could weaken the United Nations (U.N.) and following reports that permanent membership would be offered to nations contributing $1 billion in cash within the first year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to pledge $1 billion to the Board of Peace, but stated it would be conditional on the unfreezing of Russian assets in the U.S. that were seized during the Biden Administration.

Trump will chair the board. An “Executive Board” will include his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, national security adviser Robert Gabriel, and Marc Rowan, CEO of the major private equity firm Apollo Global Management.

Gaza reconstruction 

The board’s first session, to be held at the Institute of Peace, will concentrate on securing reconstruction funds for Gaza, as reported by the outlet that broke the story.

The U.N. Security Council has empowered the Board to supervise the Gaza ceasefire’s execution and to handle governance and reconstruction efforts.

This meeting occurs as the Gaza ceasefire seems more fragile than before.

On February 4, Israeli strikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 24 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. Israel stated the action was a response to a militant attack that severely injured one of its soldiers.

Gaza’s health ministry reports that over 550 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire, which was brokered by Trump and mediated by Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, began on Oct. 10, 2025.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that his forces will completely leave Gaza only after Hamas disarms.

Netanyahu to meet Trump

According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu is set to meet with Trump at the White House on February 18, the day before the board’s first meeting. They maintain the discussion will center on Iran.

Should Netanyahu attend the Board of Peace meeting, it would mark his first encounter with Arab leaders since before the Oct. 7 attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Attendance for the first meeting remains uncertain, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban confirmed at a Saturday campaign event in Szombathely, Hungary, that he will be present.

This development follows a period of strain in Trump’s relations with European allies due to months of threats, though Orban remains one of his few supporters on the continent.

Orban, Hungary’s leader for 14 years, aligns with Trump’s staunch anti-immigration stance.