The Board of Peace, established as part of the Trump administration’s Gaza peace initiative, announced a reconstruction plan valued at $2.45 billion during meetings at the UN General Assembly. The funding is designated for 66 distinct programmes to be implemented over a six-month timeframe, with priorities including residential housing, diesel power generation, and waste removal infrastructure.
Board leadership acknowledged that the reconstruction effort faces significant financial challenges ahead. While $18 billion has been pledged toward Gaza’s recovery, only $280 million has been received to date. Officials estimated that comprehensive reconstruction and recovery efforts will ultimately require approximately $71.4 billion over the next decade. Jared Kushner, who serves as Gaza Executive Board member, stated that the initiative remains committed despite encountering various implementation obstacles.
US Envoy Steve Witkoff highlighted several developments in the region, noting that hostages have been released and a ceasefire arrangement is in place, though he characterized it as imperfect. He also referenced substantial donations and pledges supporting humanitarian operations and long-term recovery work. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported that multiple countries have committed financial assistance and indicated the board is actively seeking additional participating nations.
The reconstruction effort must contend with numerous operational complexities. These include establishing security protocols for personnel working in Gaza, restructuring local governance frameworks, and building consensus between Israeli and Palestinian authorities. Additional technical challenges require removal of unexploded ordnance and destruction of tunnel networks throughout Gaza before civilian rebuilding can proceed at scale.
Casualtyreporting from Gaza since the ceasefire began last October shows at least 1,381 Palestinians, including 300 children, killed in Israeli military operations according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israeli forces reported five soldiers killed in combat and one contractor in an operational accident during the same period. In August, a senior board official expressed concerns about ongoing military operations and warned that a ceasefire collapse would represent a critical juncture for regional stability.
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