Washington, February 7: A meeting of the Board of Peace will be held in Washington to raise funds for the reconstruction of Gaza, according to American media outlet Axios.
An American official and diplomats from four participating countries reported on Friday that the meeting is planned for February 19. The primary agenda will focus on securing funding for Gaza’s reconstruction. However, they noted that this date may change.
Israeli news site The Times of Israel also confirmed this information through two Arab diplomats.
The diplomats indicated that the United States sent invitations to 26 other countries to join the panel on Friday afternoon, as reported by Axios.
Concerns have been raised that the timing of the meeting coincides with the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, which may hinder Muslim leaders’ participation.
Last month, the U.S. held a signing ceremony for the Board of Peace during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. However, several countries did not attend, reportedly due to discomfort regarding the board’s charter.
Despite this, U.S. officials have attempted to reassure allies that the Board of Peace will initially focus solely on Gaza. This aligns with a UN Security Council resolution that grants the panel authority to oversee post-war management in the Gaza Strip for the next two years.
According to The Times of Israel, Arab diplomats reported that the Board of Peace’s head, Nikolai Mladenov, is working to provide humanitarian assistance, aiming to equip the National Committee for Gaza Administration (NCAG) with the necessary resources to enter the region.
However, he is facing challenges in persuading the Israeli government to cooperate, as Jerusalem insists that only life-saving aid be allowed into areas where Hamas is still present.