The Hill: 5 Conclusions from the First Peace Council meeting under Trump’s Presidency

The Hill reviewed the details of the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council launched by US President Donald Trump in Washington in the presence of representatives of about 50 countries.

Trump has made the reconstruction of Gaza a top priority, but he has made the council a broader platform to deal with other international conflicts, as the five highlights from the event were:

First: A huge American financial pledge

Trump announced the allocation of $10 billion to the Peace Council to fund the reconstruction of Gaza, considering that this amount is small compared to the scale of the destruction.

The head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, Ali Shaath, warned that the implementation of the plan is taking place in extremely difficult circumstances, in light of widespread destruction, acute humanitarian needs and near-total economic collapse

The White House also indicated that it had received about $6.5 billion in pledges from other countries.

The money will be deposited in a World Bank fund called the Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund, with the council, headed by Trump, managing the funds, according to Hill.

Second: A Decisive Moment for Gaza’s Future

The meeting comes at a sensitive time, as Hamas still controls parts of the Gaza Strip and hasn’t declared its full readiness to disarm.

The US side gave the group 60 days to lay down its weapons, with Israeli warnings against resuming the war if it didn’t comply.

Addressing the crowd, Trump said: “I think Hamas will give up its weapons, and that’s what I promised… If you don’t, you will face a very harsh response”.

On the other hand, the head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, Ali Shaath, warned that the implementation of the plan is taking place in very difficult circumstances, in light of widespread destruction, acute humanitarian needs and near-total economic collapse, according to the report.

Third: Potential competition with the United Nations

Although Trump has asserted that the council is working in coordination with the United Nations, he has hinted that its role could go beyond the international organization in the future.

This raised European reservations, as countries in the European Union refrained from joining due to ambiguity in the structure of the council and its powers, especially since Trump appointed himself president for life and offered permanent membership to countries that pledge $1 billion.

Despite Trump’s assertion that the council is working in coordination with the United Nations, he has hinted that its role could go beyond the international organization in the future.

Fourth: Escalation of Iran’s Direction

Trump has given Iran days to strike a meaningful deal in the ongoing talks between the two sides, or it will face bad things, while Iran has once again defended its right to enrich uranium.

According to the Hill, Iran is expected to submit a written proposal outlining how to end the confrontation with the United States and address its concerns.

The Trump administration’s demands, are to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, halt its ballistic missile program, and disband allied armed groups in the region.

Fifth: Pressure on Hesitant Countries

Only 26 of the invited countries signed the council’s charter, while others delayed.

Trump has waved indirect pressure on the conservatives, stressing that everyone will join eventually.

On the other hand, leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used their opportunity to speak in praise of Trump, praising his role in international issues, reflecting an international divide between supporters who see the council as an effective tool and conservatives who fear marginalizing the role of the United Nations.

The Hill concluded by saying that the meeting is the result of Trump’s attempt to chart a new framework for leading peace efforts according to his own vision, amid international tension and questions about his ability to turn ambitions into tangible results.