Gaza Peace
Gaza Peace: The Board of Peace (BoP) will hold its first meeting in the US this Thursday. The meeting will reveal details of President Donald Trump’s plan. He aims to rebuild Gaza, form an international stabilization force (ISF), and possibly disarm Hamas.
Critics say Trump may want the BoP to replace the UN with an organization he can control. Reports suggest planners have already worked extensively. The meeting should make the plan clearer.
Future of Gaza
Rebuilding Gaza will cost tens of billions of dollars over many years. No one knows where the money will come from. Will Gulf Arab states provide most of the funds? Will private investors contribute to benefit from Trump’s “Gaza Riviera” project? Funding will directly affect Gaza Palestinians. Some fear they could be pushed into small areas between luxury developments and Israeli security barriers. They could lose access to the Mediterranean.
Hamas Agreement Needed
Palestinians have little representation in the BoP. No Palestinian sits on the top board. Only one sits at the lowest level. This raises concerns about who will protect the local people. Arab countries, along with Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia, could influence decisions. But it is unclear how far they will go.
So far, only Indonesia has pledged 8,000 troops for the ISF. Pakistan and other countries are waiting for guarantees. They want their troops to act as peacekeepers, not enforcers. The BoP will also need Hamas to voluntarily give up weapons. Without this, the plan could fail. No Muslim state will risk disarming Hamas with force. Any clash between the ISF and Hamas could destabilize participating countries and upset the fragile balance in the region.
Netanyahu Under Pressure
Hamas has said it will not give up weapons until Israel fully withdraws from Gaza. Israel has not done this. It has strengthened its positions, making Gaza narrower than before. If Israel refuses to make concessions, the outcome remains uncertain.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a coalition with hardline ministers who oppose any deal. His government faces pressure and could collapse if it does not meet party demands. Netanyahu also faces serious corruption charges. Any concessions on Gaza could threaten his political survival.
Ceasefire Status
The current ceasefire continues because Israel has slowed its attacks. Killings have decreased but not stopped. Since October 2025, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have killed about a fifth of the Palestinians they killed each month in the previous two years. Some argue that even this drop is not enough to celebrate.
Long-Term Consequences
The BoP’s success will depend on whether it helps people in Gaza. It must rebuild homes and infrastructure and prevent displacement. The path to Palestinian statehood remains unclear. Violence in Gaza has weakened Israel’s long-standing claims to legitimacy. Among younger people in the US and Europe, support is shifting from Israel to the Palestinian cause. Israeli decision-makers must consider the long-term effects of ignoring this shift.
Published in Dawn,15th February 2026
