Washington – Said Arikat – 19/2/2026
US President Donald Trump on Thursday concluded the first meeting of what he called the "Peace Council" in the capital Washington, which was attended by nearly 30 countries, about two hours after its launch, to the applause of those present, in a meeting that seemed to have been attended by the majority of participants in response to the US President's desire rather than being a reflection of broad political consensus on the initiative.
During his speech at the meeting, Trump announced that the United States would provide a massive financial contribution of $10 billion to the council he founded with the aim of supporting stability in the Gaza Strip, a remarkable step that came at a time when Western countries, which have long supported Washington's initiatives, showed coolness towards the council and ignored engaging in it as expected.
Trump said: "I want to inform you that the United States will contribute ten billion dollars to the Peace Council," in the presence of about twenty leaders, in addition to senior officials and representatives of allied countries.
The US President also announced that a number of Washington's friendly countries contributed more than seven billion dollars as part of a relief package for Gaza, pointing to contributions from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait, considering that "every dollar spent is an investment in hope."
In the context of his speech, Trump directly praised leaders and political figures, including the Prime Minister of Qatar and the Emir of Qatar, emphasizing Doha's role in supporting Washington's efforts. He also commended US envoy Steve Witkoff, describing his performance as "exceptional" in the Gaza file, and that he is a mediator who enjoys the trust and respect of all parties.
Trump also touched on multiple international issues during the meeting, including the tension between India and Pakistan, saying that his intervention and contacts with the leaders of the two countries prevented the outbreak of war, threatening to use tariffs as a pressure tool to stop the fighting. He also spoke about Washington's relations with China, announcing his intention to visit Beijing next April.
On the Iranian file, the US President stressed the need to reach a "fruitful" agreement with Tehran, warning that failure could lead to "bad things," and emphasizing that Iran "cannot obtain a nuclear weapon." He also said that the United States would know within ten days whether it would reach an agreement, speaking about developments related to Israel and Iran.
Regarding Gaza, Trump said that the war was over, and that the "Hamas" movement would surrender its weapons as promised, otherwise it would face "harshly," adding that the movement contributed a large part to the search for the bodies of the hostages, and at the same time affirming that he does not believe that sending American soldiers to Gaza to eliminate Hamas is necessary.
The remarkable aspect of the first meeting was not only the large financial announcement, but the nature of the attendance itself. Experts believe that describing the participation as being "to please the US President" reflects that the council may be used as a platform for political influence and realigning alliances rather than a multilateral initiative agreed upon. In American politics, announcing an initiative of this magnitude is not only humanitarian, but carries a dual goal: solidifying American leadership in the Gaza file, and imposing a new rhythm on allies and adversaries.
Moreover, the disregard of Western countries for the council, despite usually supporting Washington's initiatives, indicates a political gap that cannot be bridged by funding alone. Western countries, even when they agree with Washington, prefer traditional institutional frameworks (UN, EU, G7). In contrast, Trump seemed to be testing a different model: a "donor alliance" led directly by the White House. This model gives Washington greater control over decisions, but weakens the legitimacy of the international initiative.
Trump's speech was not limited to Gaza, but extended to China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and immigration, as if he was using the council to confirm the image of "the President as a global peacemaker." This expansion is not spontaneous, according to experts, but reflects a political style based on gathering major issues into one speech to demonstrate control and the ability to impose solutions. However, the danger here is that dissolving the Gaza issue within a broader showy discourse may reduce the chances of building a detailed and implementable plan on the ground.
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Trump concludes first "Peace Council" meeting in Washington, announces $10 billion US contribution to Gaza