Board of Peace opposes ‘evacuation’ from Gaza, calls for $2.45 billion in donations

The U.S.-led Board of Peace outlined plans to disarm Hamas and rebuild Gaza at a donor conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York City. The board, through its transitional Palestinian government, explicitly opposed the removal of Gaza's inhabitants, with Ali Shaath stating, "We want them to stay and live in Gaza with hope and prosperity." The plan includes a Gaza International Stabilization Force, with 500 troops from Kosovo and Morocco ready for deployment, and initial training for 19,000 vetted Gazan police applicants. Presenters requested $2.45 billion in donations for 66 near-term recovery programs over six months, part of an estimated $71 billion total reconstruction cost. Despite some Israeli objections and challenges, including a reported Israeli ban on Gazan police recruits traveling for training, the board expressed slow but steady progress, with Johannes Worsoe noting, "We have $18 billion in commitments at this point to the Board of Peace."