International arrangements for the reconstruction of Gaza: Details of the first meeting of the 'Peace Council' led by Trump

Attention turns to the United States on February 19, where the first meeting of the 'Peace Council' launched by US President Donald Trump is scheduled to be held. This meeting is the first official session of the council since its launch, and its primary goal is to organize a donors' conference dedicated to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, in the context of pushing for the implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement that has been ongoing for months.

Sources reported that delegations from at least 20 countries, including a number of leaders and presidents, confirmed their attendance at this pivotal meeting. President Trump is expected to announce during the session the dispatch of thousands of soldiers from various countries to participate in the 'International Stabilization Force' planned for deployment in the Gaza Strip, and will also provide a comprehensive briefing on the tasks and security structure of this force.

In addition to security arrangements, the US President intends to unveil a massive funding plan for the Gaza Strip, estimated at billions of dollars, aimed at kickstarting reconstruction and rehabilitating the destroyed infrastructure. This move comes under the mandate the Council received from the UN Security Council to oversee the implementation of ceasefire understandings and manage local governance issues in the Strip.

On the diplomatic front, Indonesia confirmed the participation of its President, Prabowo Subianto, in the meeting, as Jakarta seeks to use this platform to defend Palestinian rights and promote the two-state solution. The Indonesian government also announced its aspiration to sign economic and trade agreements with the American side on the sidelines of this official visit.

For its part, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will head his country's delegation participating in the meeting, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. This participation comes within Islamabad's efforts to support stabilization plans in Gaza within the international frameworks approved by the United Nations Security Council in its recent resolutions.

Vietnam, in turn, announced its joining as a founding member of the Council, with leader To Lam intending to visit Washington next week to participate in the opening. Hanoi believes that the establishment of the Peace Council represents a necessary step to implement a comprehensive roadmap to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip and ensure that military confrontations do not resume.

In contrast, controversy surrounds the Council's powers, which grant President Trump the exclusive right of veto over decisions and the authority to appoint members for life. This organizational structure has raised international concerns, with some Western capitals considering it an attempt to create an unofficial alternative to the UN Security Council and undermine the traditional UN system.

Russia announced through its foreign ministry that it would not attend the upcoming meeting, indicating that Moscow is still studying its final position on joining the Council. Despite Trump's previous statements about President Putin accepting the invitation, the Kremlin quickly denied this, confirming that the matter is still under evaluation and in-depth study.

European sentiment was divided, with Greece officially announcing that its prime minister would not participate in the meeting, while the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, linked participation to the Council's activities being limited to the Gaza file. In the same context, France refused to join, considering that the Council's charter contradicts UN resolutions and international conventions.

On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the memorandum of accession to the Peace Council during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. This step reinforces the Israeli government's involvement in the new arrangements led by the Trump administration for the next phase in the region.

For its part, Hamas strongly condemned Netanyahu's joining of the Council, describing the move as a 'dangerous indicator' that contradicts the principles of international justice. The movement stated in a communiqué that Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court and accused him of continuing to obstruct ceasefire agreements despite more than three months having passed since the truce was announced.

The Peace Council currently consists of 27 members, including influential Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, and Morocco. It also includes regional and international countries such as Turkey, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Hungary, while Canada agreed to join with an exemption from paying the prescribed membership fees.

The Council's founding charter, announced in mid-January, indicates that it is a permanent international organization aimed at promoting 'good governance' in conflict areas. However, experts note that the charter does not explicitly refer to the Gaza Strip in its general provisions, even though the Council was included as a key tool in Trump's plan to end the war.

The biggest challenge facing the Council remains its ability to gain full international legitimacy in light of the boycott by major powers such as China, Britain, and France. Political circles are awaiting the practical decisions that will result from the February 19 meeting, especially regarding reconstruction funding and the formation of international forces that will undertake security tasks in the Strip.

Trump will announce during the meeting the dispatch of thousands of troops from several countries to participate in the international stabilization force that is supposed to be deployed in the Gaza Strip.