U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (February 19, 2026) promised $10 billion, and Muslim-majority nations supplied funding and troops for Gaza as he inaugurated his “Board of Peace,” a brand new establishment whose final mission has drawn questions.
Mr. Trump introduced collectively allies from all over the world — many authoritarians, with few Western democrats who historically ally with america — to hail his peacemaking simply as he sends U.S. army may close to Iran and threatens struggle.
Presiding with a gavel over the assembly within the gleaming Washington constructing of the previous U.S. Institute of Peace, which has been gutted and renamed after the 79-year-old Republican, Mr. Trump hailed the “highly effective folks” who joined his board.
“We are going to assist Gaza. We are going to straighten it out. We’ll make it profitable,” Mr. Trump stated, holding up a doc with pledges earlier than the disco beats of his adopted theme-song “YMCA” got here on the audio system.
“We are going to make it peaceable, and we’ll do issues like that in different spots. Spots will come up, issues will occur,” Mr. Trump stated.
Mr. Trump, who has sharply curtailed overseas support, stated america would contribute $10 billion to the board.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates every promised not less than $1 billion. White Home Press Secretary stated greater than $6.5 billion was pledged, presumably excluding Mr. Trump’s provide.
“Collectively we will obtain the dream of bringing lasting concord to a area tortured by centuries of struggle, struggling,” stated the realtor-turned-president, who has spoken improbably of constructing vacationer resorts in Gaza.
Mr. Trump didn’t clarify precisely the place the cash would go and whether or not Congress had permitted the contribution he introduced for the establishment, which has drawn criticism for its opaque nature.
Mr. Trump will wield veto energy over the “Board of Peace” and might stay its head even after leaving workplace, whereas nations that need to keep on completely moderately than get pleasure from a two-year stint might want to pay $1 billion.
Troop pledges
The “Board of Peace” got here collectively after the Trump administration, teaming up with Qatar and Egypt, negotiated a ceasefire in October to halt two years of devastating struggle in Gaza.
The plan’s second section requires the disarmament of Hamas, whose unprecedented October 7, 2023 assault on Israel triggered the large offensive.
In a primary for an Arab nation, Morocco introduced it was able to ship police in addition to officers to the nascent Worldwide Stabilization Power.
The power’s American commander, Main Normal Jasper Jeffers, stated that Albania, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Kosovo had been additionally sending troops and introduced that an Indonesian officer would function his deputy.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, earlier stated it was able to ship 8,000 troops — almost half of the 20,000 sought.
Mr. Trump hailed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who attended, calling the previous army officer accused of human rights abuses in East Timor a “robust cookie.”
Nickolay Mladenov, a veteran Bulgarian diplomat named excessive consultant for Gaza by america, additionally introduced the start of recruitment for a post-Hamas police power in Gaza and stated 2,000 folks had utilized within the first hours.
Regardless of the truce, Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which operates below Hamas authorities, says that Israeli forces have killed not less than 601 folks because it took impact.
Overseas Minister Gideon Saar, representing Israel on the assembly, demanded disarmament of Hamas and “a basic deradicalization course of” in Gaza.
‘Ambition and narcissism’
In a rambling speech, Mr. Trump denounced home opponents, highlighted inventory market good points, denied gay leanings and endorsed the political fortunes of a number of world leaders on stage, together with populists Viktor Orban of Hungary and Javier Milei of Argentina.
He additionally issued a brand new warning to Iran, warning of potential U.S. strikes in 10 days if the clerical state doesn’t comply with main concessions beginning with its nuclear program.
Critics say the “Board of Peace” stays imprecise, together with how it might work together with current establishments, together with the United Nations, to which Mr. Trump has drastically reduce assist.
“It’s a confused mixture of ambition and narcissism, unleavened by any effort at mental coherence,” stated Bruce Jones, a senior fellow on the Brookings Establishment.
Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania, a steadfast U.S. ally, dismissed European issues that Mr. Trump was making an attempt to “exchange the UN.”
“But when it helps shake that agonising big and, Inshallah, wake it up, then God bless the Board of Peace,” Mr. Rama stated.
Printed – February 19, 2026 09:20 pm IST
