Gaza Residents Doubt Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Will Bring Real Change

Deir el-Balah – As United States President Donald Trump convened the first meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington, DC, on Thursday, February 19, 2026, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were focused on a more immediate reality: survival. Amidst diplomatic language and political frameworks, the central question for those displaced and struggling in central and southern Gaza was whether the new initiative would translate into tangible improvements on the ground.

“I’ve heard about money being collected for Gaza, but we see nothing. This has happened many times, but nothing ever changes,” said 43-year-old Amal Joudeh, who lives in a tent in Deir el-Balah. “I am one of the people whose house is gone. I still have no home. My husband is injured, and my children are injured. We want any support or reconstruction… any solution,” said the mother of eight, displaced from the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya.

During the meeting in Washington, Trump announced that nine member nations had pledged $7 billion to a reconstruction fund for the Gaza Strip, and that five countries had agreed to deploy troops to an International Stabilisation Force for the Palestinian territory. He also stated the US would contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace, though the specific allocation of those funds remains undefined.

However, these pledges fall significantly short of the United Nations’ estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild the territory, which has suffered extensive damage during more than two years of conflict. The situation remains precarious, with little visible change for most Palestinians.

Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by Trump that came into effect in October 2025, the situation on the ground has seen limited improvement. Palestinians continue to struggle with basic necessities, and access to healthcare, education, and sanitation remains severely limited. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, over 600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire since the truce was established.

“Israel kills, bombs, violates the ceasefire agreement daily and expands the buffer zone without anyone stopping it,” said Awad al-Ghoul, a 70-year-old Palestinian displaced from Tal as-Sultan in Rafah, now living in a tent in az-Zawayda. “If a peace board of this size cannot force Israel to stop its attacks in a small place like Gaza, how will it fix conflicts across the world?” he questioned, referencing Trump’s stated ambition for the board to address international disputes beyond Gaza.

Skepticism regarding the pledged funds is widespread. Many Gazans recall past international donor conferences that failed to deliver substantial aid. Al-Ghoul expressed doubt that the full amount would reach Gaza, suggesting a significant portion would be consumed by administrative costs, and salaries.

“A small part will go to Gaza, and the rest will be administrative expenses and luxurious salaries for top officials and presidents. A small portion will come to Gaza so they can say they supported Gaza and justify the continuation of their luxury club called the Board of Peace,” he said.

Jamal Abu Makhdeh echoed this sentiment. “They won’t do anything for Gaza. It’s all lies,” the 66-year-old said in Deir el-Balah. “Anything Israel agrees to certainly won’t be in our interest.” He expressed concern that Trump and Israel would use the Board of Peace to impose their decisions through force, prioritizing power and control over the needs of Palestinians.

Reconstruction efforts have consistently been hampered by Israeli restrictions on the entry of construction materials, despite previous ceasefire agreements and pledges of aid. “Even if the board decides to rebuild Gaza, this is unlikely and won’t happen. We’ve heard this many times and nothing happened,” Abu Makhdeh added. “How can we trust a peace board in which Israel is a member? It is the one that killed us, destroyed us, and committed genocide.”

The issue of disarmament, a key requirement of the truce, also raises concerns. Abu Makhdeh fears that demands for Hamas to disarm are a pretext for creating internal divisions and weakening Palestinian resistance.

“Their main goal is to disarm Hamas so that we drown in internal and civil disputes,” he said. He views talk of peace as deceptive, pointing to ongoing Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank, including house demolitions, settlement expansion, and restrictions on daily life.

While skepticism prevails, some express cautious optimism regarding the potential deployment of an international peacekeeping force, provided it acts as a deterrent to further Israeli aggression. “Personally, I hope this force is sent, but it must act as a deterrent to Israel’s continued attacks, like UNIFIL in Lebanon. I don’t imagine Israel would attack a force imposed by a Board of Peace managed by Trump,” said al-Ghoul.

Jouda, however, simply hopes for a return to normalcy for herself and her children: the reopening of schools, a safe home, and a dignified life. “All I ask for is a dignified life for myself and my children, no matter which party delivers it.”

Beyond the diplomatic initiatives, the fundamental demands of the people of Gaza remain simple: safety, peace, and the right to return home.