US Convenes Board for Gaza Reconstruction

- The $7 billion in aid is pledged by nine countries: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait. The United States has separately committed $10 billion to the "Board of Peace," and the UN is expected to raise an additional $2 billion. - The International Stabilization Force (ISF) has troop commitments from five initial countries: Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania. Indonesia has been offered the role of deputy commander and is prepared to deploy as many as 8,000 troops toward the 20,000-soldier goal. - This initiative is part of a 20-point peace plan endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution, which authorizes the establishment of the stabilization force. The plan is overseen by the "Board of Peace," which is personally chaired by Donald Trump and includes his son-in-law Jared Kushner in a leadership role. - On-the-ground administration is intended to be handled by a newly formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a body of 15 Palestinians led by technocrat Dr. Ali Sha'ath that will focus on public services and have no political role. - A key condition for the reconstruction and deployment of the ISF is the complete disarmament of Hamas, which remains a major unresolved issue. - Plans reviewed by journalists show the construction of a 5,000-person military base on over 350 acres in southern Gaza to house the international force. - Several of Washington's traditional allies, including the UK, France, and Germany, have declined to join the board, expressing concerns it could undermine the United Nations. Critics have also pointed out that the board includes Israel but has no Palestinian representatives.