Israel's Foreign Minister to Attend Board of Peace Launch in Washington

The U.S. has pledged one year of funding for humanitarian aid and administration, and the UAE has committed financing, while Washington is urging other countries to help fund a broader, longer-term Gaza reconstruction effort to be addressed at a Board of Peace meeting. Board of Peace High Representative Nikolay Mladenov has proposed a Security Council‑authorized transitional technocratic authority to run Gaza under the Board’s supervision, and says disarmament of all armed factions—including Hamas and Islamic Jihad—is a precondition for Israel’s withdrawal and the start of Gaza’s political and reconstruction process. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is expected to represent Israel at the Board of Peace’s launch meeting in Washington this week, the first gathering since the board signed its charter in Davos in January. Invitations say the board will kick off international efforts to promote Gaza’s reconstruction and unite countries, institutions and partners to “lay the foundations” for prosperity in Gaza. U.S. officials told Reuters that at a Washington summit President Trump plans to unveil an international stabilization force for Gaza — with several countries potentially sending thousands of troops each — and a multibillion-dollar reconstruction package. About 20 countries, including many heads of state, are expected to attend; the meeting agenda has not been released.