Peace Board on hold: War in Iran hits Trump’s multi-billion-dollar Gaza plan
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the war in Gaza, which has already secured promised billion-dollar contributions from the Persian Gulf countries, faces a new obstacle — the war in Iran, according to Reuters.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the diplomatic process effectively stalled after February 28, when Israel and the US launched a joint military operation against Iran. The escalation of the conflict in the region complicated the work of intermediaries and jeopardized Trump’s key foreign policy initiative.
The plan aimed to end the hostilities in Gaza, disarm the Hamas group, and proceed with the enclave’s reconstruction. Under the plan, militants were to lay down their arms in exchange for amnesty.
White House intermediaries conducted behind-the-scenes negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Gulf countries expected to play a key role in funding the initiative. Donald Trump managed to secure multi-billion-dollar commitments from the Arab states less than a month before the outbreak of the new war.
However, following the escalation, the situation changed dramatically. The countries that had promised financial support now face the threat of Iranian attacks themselves, which could affect their willingness to fund the project.
What the White House and Hamas say
At the same time, the White House denied that the negotiations had completely stalled.
"Discussions on disarmament are ongoing and positive. All of the mediators agree that this is a critical step to enable rebuilding for the people of Gaza," a White House statement said.
However, a Palestinian official close to the negotiations said that a planned meeting between Hamas and intermediaries from Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye, scheduled for the day the war began, was canceled. A new date for the talks has not yet been set.
A Hamas representative also confirmed that negotiations on Trump’s plan are currently frozen.
Last year, the US, together with international mediators, reached a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and began implementing the first stage of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. This included, among other measures, a prisoner exchange and the return of the bodies of the deceased.
Following this, the launch of the second stage of the initiative was announced — the creation of a Peace Board. This body was to oversee the implementation of agreements, coordinate international aid, and ensure Gaza’s gradual transition from conflict to reconstruction and development.
