Trump’s 'Board of Peace' fund has no money for Gaza: Report

What Happened

The US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace', an initiative intended to fund reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Gaza, currently holds no funds and remains in legal and political limbo, according to a report by Middle East Eye. A senior US official travelled to Saudi Arabia in April 2026 in an unsuccessful attempt to secure funding from the Saudi government for the initiative. The failure to obtain Saudi financial backing leaves the Board of Peace without operational capital, despite its stated purpose of supporting post-conflict stabilisation in Gaza.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The Board of Peace was positioned as a key mechanism for post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza, signalling US intent to play a central role in stabilisation efforts following the latest escalation. The failure to secure funding—particularly from Saudi Arabia, a traditional US ally and major regional financial actor—undermines the credibility of the initiative and raises questions about the Trump administration's capacity to mobilise international support for Gaza reconstruction. Without operational funds, the Board of Peace cannot deliver on its stated objectives, leaving a vacuum in post-conflict planning and potentially prolonging humanitarian distress in Gaza.

Watch For

Monitor whether the Trump administration approaches other Gulf states (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait) or European donors for alternative funding. Watch for any formal legal resolution of the Board of Peace's status, including whether it is restructured, dissolved, or integrated into existing US aid mechanisms. Track statements from the Saudi government regarding their rationale for declining participation, and whether this signals broader Saudi disengagement from US-led Gaza initiatives. Any announcement of a revised funding model or a pivot to multilateral frameworks (e.g., UN-led reconstruction efforts) would indicate a strategic shift.