Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is set to travel to Washington on February 19 to take part in US President Donald Trump’s inaugural formal meeting of the Board of Peace, according to multiple reports citing Israeli officials and diplomatic sources. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not expected to attend in person, and Sa’ar is slated to represent Israel instead.
The meeting is being framed by US officials as a major moment in Trump’s plan focused on Gaza. US officials have said Trump plans to use the gathering to announce a multibillion-dollar Gaza reconstruction plan and to lay out proposals for a UN-authorized stabilization force for the territory.
Sa’ar to represent Israel in Washington
Several outlets reported that Netanyahu asked Sa’ar to attend the Board of Peace meeting on Israel’s behalf after the prime minister decided not to return to Washington for the event. The Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu had recently been in Washington and chose not to come back for the Board of Peace meeting, with Sa’ar designated to represent Israel.
The Jerusalem Post similarly reported that Sa’ar will represent Israel at the summit, citing a source familiar with the matter. The paper also reported that the Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu would not travel to the US next week and would participate remotely in the annual AIPAC conference instead.
What the Board of Peace is meant to do
Reports describe the Board of Peace as an international forum linked to Trump’s approach to ending the Gaza war. According to Reuters reporting republished by US News and other outlets, the board’s creation was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Trump’s plan aimed at resolving the conflict in Gaza.
The Media Line described the board as intended to coordinate international participation in postwar reconstruction and security arrangements. The Times of Israel described the board as tasked with overseeing Gaza’s transition to a postwar, non-Hamas government, tied to what it called the US “20-point plan” for the territory.
Gaza reconstruction and a stabilization force
US officials told Reuters that Trump is expected to announce a multibillion-dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza at the February 19 meeting. Those officials also said Trump plans to detail proposals for a UN-authorized stabilization force for the Palestinian enclave.
The Reuters report also said the meeting is expected to focus on Gaza after two years of war left much of the enclave in ruins. It added that delegations from at least 20 countries, including heads of state, are expected to attend, while some traditional Western allies and global powers have been more cautious about joining.
Attendance and funding signals
The Times of Israel reported that a number of senior leaders are expected to participate, naming heads of state from Argentina, Cambodia, Hungary, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Vietnam, and also reported that Bahrain’s King Hamad Al Khalifa is slated to attend, citing an Arab diplomat. It also reported that all 28 countries on the panel are expected to send a representative, though each is deciding how senior an official to dispatch.
On the question of reconstruction funding, the Times of Israel reported that Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said his country could not commit funds until there is more clarity on the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the disarmament of Hamas, and suggested the February 19 meeting may help clarify those issues. The same report said the US hopes to announce $1.25 billion in donations from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait, citing a US official and two Arab diplomats, and also noted a New York Times report that the US is planning a similar donation.
Disarmament and withdrawals remain central disputes
Multiple reports highlighted that the meeting is expected to address hard security questions—especially Hamas disarmament and Israeli troop withdrawals. The Reuters report said the next steps in Trump’s plan include an international stabilization force deployed as Israeli troops withdraw further and Hamas disarms, while also noting Hamas has rejected demands to disarm.
The Media Line likewise said the meeting is expected to address Hamas disarmament, the scope of Israeli withdrawals, and deployment of an international peacekeeping or stabilization force. The Times of Israel reported that Hamas has repeatedly said disarmament is a red line, though it has indicated it could consider handing over weapons to a future Palestinian governing authority.
