In a move that bypasses the “bloated bureaucracies” of traditional international bodies, President Donald J. Trump convened the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace today, February 19, 2026. Stepping into the newly renamed Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace, the President secured immediate, massive commitments from a coalition of over 20 nations aimed at the total reconstruction and demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
At The Modern Memo, we analyze the $17 billion fundraising surge, the “New Gaza” real estate vision, and how this body is effectively sidelining the United Nations.
The $17 Billion “Stability Fund”
While legacy institutions often spend years debating budgets, the Board of Peace moved with “Trump-speed,” announcing staggering financial commitments within the first hour of the summit.
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The Member Pledges: Nine nations—including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar—pledged a combined $7 billion specifically for Gaza relief and infrastructure.
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The U.S. Anchor: President Trump doubled down on American leadership by pledging $10 billion in U.S. funds for the Board, though he signaled this money would be tied to “strict performance and demilitarization benchmarks.”
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Economic Logic: In his opening remarks, Trump described the funds as an “investment in stability,” arguing that a prosperous, “harmonious” Middle East is the only permanent solution to generations of conflict.
Security: The International Stabilization Force (ISF)
The most critical pillar of the “Trump Peace Plan” is the establishment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), an armed body tasked with the permanent disarmament of Hamas.
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Troop Commitments: In a significant win for the administration, major Islamic nations—including Indonesia, Morocco, and Kazakhstan—officially pledged troops for the stabilization force.
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Police Training: Regional heavyweights Egypt and Jordan have committed to training a new, depoliticized Palestinian police force to manage day-to-day civil order.
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The Command: Under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, the ISF will oversee the destruction of weapon manufacturing sites and incentivize the handover of light weapons through “funds, jobs, and amnesty.”
Remaking the World: A Rival to the UN?
The Board of Peace is increasingly being viewed as a pragmatic alternative to the United Nations, which the President has criticized for being “rife with ideological bias.”
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A “Nimble” Alternative: U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz defended the Board’s unconventional structure, stating that “the old ways were not working.”
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Authoritarian Slant? While European allies like the UK, France, and Germany declined to join the inaugural meeting, the Board features strong participation from the “doers” of the Middle East and Central Asia, along with allies like Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán.
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Global Remit: Though the current focus is Gaza, the Board’s charter allows it to intervene in “any area affected or threatened by conflict,” suggesting it may soon take over roles previously held by the 66 international organizations the U.S. exited earlier this year.
“New Gaza”: From Rubble to Real Estate
The vision for the territory—frequently referred to as the “New Gaza” plan championed by Jared Kushner—reimagines the enclave through the lens of free-market principles.
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District Redevelopment: The plan treats Gaza as “prime beachfront real estate,” dividing the territory into designated districts designed to resemble high-end Gulf cities like Dubai.
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GDP Overhaul: Kushner noted that for too long, 85% of Gaza’s GDP was aid. The Board aims to flip this by creating “economic zones” that empower Palestinians to thrive through capitalism rather than dependence.
Final Word
The inaugural Board of Peace meeting marks a fundamental shift toward “transactional diplomacy,” where results are measured in dollars pledged and boots committed rather than speeches made. When you look past the skepticism of the “chattering class” and focus on the data of a $17 billion starting fund and the technicality of the ISF’s disarmament mandate, you gain a clearer picture of a new international order.
Quality information replaces the noise of bureaucratic defensiveness with the clarity of action-oriented benchmarks. It allows you to see this Board not as a “distraction,” but as a necessary disruption of a failed status quo. By choosing to follow the results of the Washington summit rather than the handwringing of the legacy press, you align your perspective with the realities of modern peacemaking and support a more informed, resilient global future.
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