US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” has held its first meeting after being officially formed in January (MEES, 23 January). On 19 February, Mr Trump said the US will commit $10bn to reconstruct Gaza, and that nine countries – Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait – have contributed more than $7bn. There is also $2bn from the UN and $75mn from FIFA for “soccer-related projects in Gaza.”
Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania have also signed up to the International Stabilization Force (ISF) meant to act as a peacekeeping force alongside a reconstituted police force. But, despite the repeated victory laps taken by US officials about ending ‘3,000 years’ of conflict, the ceasefire is being breached frequently and the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. (CONTINUED - 127 WORDS)