Trump hosts first Gaza Peace Board meeting, praises Pakistan PM

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Washington for the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Peace Board, marking what he described as a step toward broader regional engagement.

Speaking at the White House, Trump thanked Sharif for attending and said he “greatly appreciates” the Pakistani leader.

“I like Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif very much,” Trump said in brief remarks.

Trump also praised Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling him “a very outstanding commander.”

He referred to Munir as “a great fighter” and commended his leadership during a period of heightened tensions in South Asia.

Tensions with India

Trump also addressed tensions between Pakistan and India, saying the conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors had been intensifying at the time. “The war between Pakistan and India was escalating rapidly,” he said, adding that the United States played a role in helping to de-escalate the situation.

He said he warned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that heavy tariffs would be imposed if the fighting did not end.

Trump said close relations were established with Sharif during the crisis and claimed that 11 aircraft were shot down during the hostilities.

Inaugural meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump told the first meeting of his Board of Peace that $7 billion has been contributed to a Gaza reconstruction fund aimed at rebuilding the enclave once Hamas disarms, an objective that remains uncertain.

The disarmament of Hamas militants, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the size of the reconstruction fund, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s war-battered population are among the issues likely to test the board’s effectiveness in the coming months.

In a series of announcements at the end of a lengthy speech, Trump said the United States would contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace. He said participating nations had raised $7 billion as an initial down payment for Gaza reconstruction.

Trump first proposed the board last September when he announced a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza. He later said the board’s mandate would expand beyond Gaza to address other conflicts worldwide.

He also said FIFA would raise $75 million for soccer-related projects in Gaza and that the United Nations would contribute $2 billion for humanitarian assistance.

Governance questions

The Board of Peace includes Israel but not Palestinian representatives. Trump’s suggestion that it could eventually address challenges beyond Gaza has fueled concern that it might undermine the United Nations’ role as the primary forum for global diplomacy.

“We’re going to strengthen the United Nations,” Trump said. “It’s really very important.”

The meeting took place as Trump threatened military action against Iran and oversaw a buildup of U.S. forces in the region in case Tehran refuses to abandon its nuclear program.

Trump said he would know within 10 days whether a deal with Iran was possible. “We have to have a meaningful deal,” he said.

Ceasefire and security plans

Senior U.S. officials said Trump would also announce that several countries plan to send thousands of troops to participate in an International Stabilization Force to help maintain peace in Gaza if it deploys.

Hamas has been reluctant to surrender its weapons under Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, which led to a fragile ceasefire last October after two years of war.

Trump said he hoped force would not be required to disarm Hamas. “It looks like they’re going to be doing that, but we’ll have to find out,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas would be disarmed one way or another. “Very soon, Hamas will face a dilemma: to disarm peacefully or be disarmed forcefully,” he said.

In Gaza, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said any international force must monitor the ceasefire and prevent what he called Israeli aggression. He said disarmament could be discussed, but did not commit to it.

Hamas, which has resumed administering the enclave, says it is prepared to hand authority to a U.S.-backed committee of Palestinian technocrats led by Ali Shaath, but that Israel has not allowed the group into Gaza. Israel has not commented on the claim.