White House Plans First "Board of Peace" Leaders' Meeting for Feb 19

The United States is preparing a diplomatic initiative centered on Gaza reconstruction and post-war governance, reflecting a broader attempt by U.S. President Donald Trump to institutionalize a new conflict-management framework while drawing scrutiny from allies and international legal experts.

Governance Authority Vs Multilateral Norms

The White House is planning the first leaders meeting for Trump’s “Board of Peace” on February 19 in Washington, according to Axios, which cited a U.S. official and diplomats from four participating countries.

The gathering is expected to take place at the U.S. Institute of Peace and will also serve as a fundraising conference aimed at financing Gaza reconstruction. Planning remains in early stages and "could still change," according to the report.

The meeting follows the late-January launch of the "Board of Peace," which Trump will chair. The initiative was initially designed to supervise Gaza’s temporary governance following the October ceasefire arrangement negotiated under a U.S. plan accepted by Israel and Hamas.

The initiative was later expanded by Trump to address wider global conflicts.

The structure has prompted concern among policy specialists that it "could undermine the United Nations," reflecting tension between U.S.-led mechanisms and established multilateral institutions.

Representation Disputes

The proposed governance framework has faced criticism from human rights specialists who argue that U.S. supervision of a foreign territory resembles a "colonial structure."

Critics also highlight the absence of Palestinian representation in the board’s composition, one such critic being the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez.

Governments worldwide have responded cautiously to invitations to join the initiative. Several Middle Eastern U.S. partners have agreed to participate, while multiple Western allies have remained outside the framework.

The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in mid-November authorizing the board and participating countries to establish an international stabilization force in Gaza. The resolution created a legal basis for security and governance arrangements tied to the fragile ceasefire that began in October.

Since the truce began, more than 550 Palestinians have been reported killed, underscoring continued volatility despite formal hostilities being suspended.

Diplomatic Sequencing And Security Realities

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on February 18, one day before the planned February 19 conference. The sequencing highlights the close coordination between Washington and Jerusalem on Gaza’s post-conflict governance and reconstruction planning. Neither the White House nor the U.S. State Department responded to requests for comment regarding the Axios report.

Reconstruction Funding Mechanisms

The February 19 meeting is expected to focus partly on financial commitments for Gaza’s rebuilding effort, combining diplomatic coordination with fundraising objectives.

Stabilization forces authorized under the November U.N. resolution are designed to support ceasefire enforcement and governance transition.

However, persistent violations of the October ceasefire indicate significant implementation challenges. The planned conference aims to align political, security, and economic reconstruction tracks under a U.S.-led institutional structure, even as international participation remains uneven.