Trump Seeks Bright Future For Gaza People Ahead
US President Donald Trump addressed the first meeting of the Gaza Peace Board in Washington, outlining plans for Gaza’s reconstruction, international contributions, regional peace efforts, and positions on Iran, while key global powers were absent.
US President Donald Trump said the United States wants a bright future for the people of Gaza, stressing the importance of the United Nations and saying it would operate according to its capacity.
The first meeting of the Gaza Peace Board, chaired by President Trump in Washington, was attended by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China, Russia and the United Kingdom, were not present at the meeting.
Before the session began at the Trump Institute of Peace, President Trump posed for a group photograph with world leaders.
Addressing the meeting, Trump said countries were contributing to Gaza’s reconstruction and stability. He said more than $7 billion had already been pledged for rebuilding Gaza, while the United States would provide $10 billion. He said FIFA would help raise $75 million for projects in Gaza. Trump said the goal was a properly governed Gaza, adding there should be no assumption that sending troops for war would be necessary. He said it appeared Hamas would lay down its weapons and that Gaza would no longer be a hub of extremism and terrorism.
Trump said he would shortly speak with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, adding that steps would be taken to ensure the United Nations remained functional. He said the UN was very important and would work within its capacity, noting that the UN aid office was raising $2 billion for Gaza, with China and Russia also participating.
He said nothing was more important than peace, describing the Gaza Peace Board as a key forum for sustainable peace. Trump said there was no other board as strong or important, that major countries were part of it, and that it had no alternative in terms of objectives and significance. He reiterated that the aim was a bright future for the people of Gaza.
Referring to Iran, Trump said good talks were underway and that the United States wanted a meaningful agreement. He said Iran would not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons under any circumstances, adding that peace in the Middle East was not possible if Iran had nuclear arms. He said clarity on Iran would emerge in about 10 days, urging Tehran to move onto the path of peace, warning that failure to reach an agreement would have serious consequences.
Trump said he had helped end eight wars and that a ninth was close to resolution. He said he had strong relations with world leaders, praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and described Pakistan’s field marshal as a great individual and an excellent fighter. He said Pakistan and India were heading toward an intense conflict, but US intervention helped stop the war. He said India had been warned of heavy tariffs if the fighting did not stop, adding that 11 jet aircraft were shot down during the conflict and that close relations developed with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during that period.
During the meeting, Peace Board officials said 2,000 Palestinians had applied to join the new interim Palestinian police force.
International Stabilisation Force commander Major General Jasper Jeffers said five countries had committed to providing troops. He said Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania would send military contingents, with Indonesia accepting the position of deputy commander of the ISF. He added that Egypt and Jordan would train police forces in Gaza.
