A board established by U.S. President Donald Trump to oversee the administration and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, known as the "Board of Peace," has warned of a severe shortfall in funds needed to implement its efforts.
According to media reports on May 15, the Board of Peace said there is a significant gap between the amount disbursed and the $17 billion it received in pledged funding. A report sent to the United Nations Security Council on May 15 stated: "Commitments that remain undisbursed are the difference between a framework that exists only on paper and one that can deliver tangible results for the people of Gaza."
The funding shortfall raises concerns about the Board of Peace, which critics have long viewed as an attempt to bypass traditional international bodies and aid groups that Israel is unwilling to see shape the future of the devastated Palestinian territory. Reuters reported in April that the board had received only a fraction of the $17 billion pledged, but the agency denied the report, asserting that "there is no funding constraint."
The cost of rebuilding Gaza, much of which was leveled during Israel's devastating war, is estimated at $70 billion. The board's report found that 85% of buildings and infrastructure in Gaza have been destroyed, with 70 million tons of rubble requiring removal. The report stressed that funding gaps need to be addressed "urgently," but did not specify the exact shortfall.
The Board of Peace was approved by the United Nations as part of a peace plan between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas. However, many countries have refused to participate. The United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, as well as Morocco, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait are among the parties that have pledged funding to the board. Israel continues to restrict humanitarian access to Gaza and conducts regular attacks, which have killed over 800 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect in October 2024.
In its report, the Board of Peace blamed Hamas for shortcomings in the ceasefire agreement, saying the group refuses to relinquish control over the Gaza Strip. Hamas criticized the report, calling it "fallacious." The United States has frequently defended Israel against criticism and avoided blaming it for obstacles in negotiations since the war began in October 2023.
