The 'Peace Council' launched by US President Donald Trump earlier this year is facing sharp criticism from international observers, following its tangible failure to achieve any real breakthrough in the Gaza Strip issue. Since its official inauguration in January 2026, the Council has not succeeded in warding off the specter of famine or improving the deteriorating living conditions of the population, raising questions about the true objectives behind its establishment.
Trump had announced this Council at a grand ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, inviting world leaders to join it under strict financial conditions. These conditions include paying one billion dollars to a special fund under Trump's direct supervision to ensure permanent membership, and in case of non-payment, the participating country's membership lapses after only three years from the date of joining.
In the context of diplomatic moves, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and the Council's Executive Director, Nikolay Mladenov. The attendees discussed a comprehensive assessment of the Council's performance over the past months, agreeing on a work plan aimed at improving outcomes by next October, according to international press sources.
On the ground, the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza remains stagnant with the continued intransigence of the Israeli occupation in implementing the ceasefire provisions. Data indicates that the amount of aid entering the Strip does not exceed 200 trucks daily, a figure far less than the 600 trucks stipulated in the agreements, exacerbating the severity of health and food crises.
Political analysts believe that this Council has offered nothing but hollow promises, and in the view of some, has become a political cover that grants the occupation additional time to continue its military operations. It is believed that Netanyahu seeks to exploit Palestinian suffering as a tool in his election campaign, which weakens the chances of success for any genuine peace initiative in the foreseeable future.
On the other hand, academics criticized the absence of direct Palestinian representation in the Council's deliberations, where Gaza is treated as an investment project in international conferences such as Davos. Experts questioned why dialogue with Palestinian parties was excluded, contenting themselves with coordination between American and Israeli officials and the Council's executive management.
In contrast, researchers in strategic studies present a different vision, considering that the security environment in Gaza is still not conducive to attracting international investments. They link the success of the Council's missions to the necessity of changing the political reality in the Strip, pointing out that the continued presence of armed factions with their weapons represents an obstacle to the flow of capital for reconstruction.
Palestinian parties responded to these claims by emphasizing that the factions have shown high flexibility in the governance management file, and linked the issue of weapons to the existence of a just political path that guarantees national rights. Sources clarified that Hamas did not refuse to discuss security arrangements, but refuses disarmament to be a prerequisite without guarantees of an end to aggression.
Media reports revealed warning messages sent by the Council's administration to the Palestinian National Committee for Gaza Administration last April. The messages included clear threats that continued refusal to disarm could lead to the resumption of a comprehensive war, with hints that Israel would not commit to ensuring the entry of aid under the current circumstances.
The future of the 'Peace Council' remains dependent on its ability to transition from a formal and financial framework to real action on the ground. With increasing reports of Tel Aviv's intention to resume military operations, the region appears to be heading towards a new escalation that could completely end any remaining role for this controversial American initiative.
The Peace Council has not fulfilled any of its promises, and has become a formal framework and a cover for the continuation of Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.
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Trump's Gaza Peace Council: Stalled Promises and Financial Conditions Spark Controversy Over Its Efficacy