Trump sets 10-day deadline for Iran at inaugural Board of Peace meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ convened for the first time in Washington yesterday to approve its foundational principles, including guidelines for fundraising and financial operations. At the outset of his remarks, President Trump stated, “What we're doing is very simple: peace,” noting that “the Board of Peace is one of the most important and consequential things that I'll be involved in.”

Addressing American negotiations with Iran, Trump characterized recent discussions as “good talks,” but maintained that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. “We have to make a meaningful deal, otherwise bad things [will] happen. We may have to take it a step further — or we may not. Maybe we’re going to make a deal,” adding, “You’re going to be finding out over the next, probably 10 days.”

During the introduction of participants, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar was seen standing alongside Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani and Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. In his speech, Trump thanked Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their efforts, noting that “Gaza is very complex.” Referring to Hamas, he added, “I think they’re going to give up their weapons.”

Trump also announced that Indonesia will take part in the international stabilization force in Gaza, as will Morocco, Kosovo, Albania, and Kazakhstan, as previously reported by KAN News. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan added that Turkey is prepared to assist with forces for the international stabilization force in Gaza.

“We settled eight wars and, I think, a ninth to come,” Trump added, referring to the war in Ukraine. “It turned out to be a tougher one. I thought that was going to be the easiest one. But with war, you never know what’s easy and what’s not so easy.”

Noting that what he called “the greatest world leaders” had accepted the invitation to join the Board of Peace, the President said, “Almost everybody has accepted, and the ones that haven’t will be.”

Referring to the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which he claims to have resolved, Trump joked, “I think they became friends.”

שר החוץ סער - לצד ר"מ קטר: התמונה הקבוצתית של "מועצת השלום" של טראמפ@gilicohen10 pic.twitter.com/jkdPoZmOw6

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) February 19, 2026

The Board of Peace will be funded by member states, other countries, organizations, or additional sources, according to the document sent to participating countries in the first meeting, a copy of which was obtained by KAN News. 

As of now, neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor the Foreign Ministry have responded to inquiries regarding whether Israel is expected to contribute financially for its membership in the Board of Peace. This comes despite the fact that, in advance of the meeting, participating countries were asked to declare their financial support.

Trump praised leaders of “Middle Eastern countries” as being “very generous with money,” before adding that the U.S. “is also very generous with money, because there's nothing more important than peace.”

The Qatari prime minister remarked that his country has pledged $1 billion USD to the Board of Peace’s activities, aimed at fulfilling “Palestinian aspiration for statehood and recognition, and Israel’s aspiration for security and integration.” 

The Foreign Minister of the UAE praised the Abraham Accords and cooperation with Israel, even after October 7. He added that his country also pledged to contribute $1.2 billion to the reconstruction of Gaza through the Board of Peace.

KAN News reported that, at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Sa’ar would participate in the Board of Peace meeting. Prime Minister Netanyahu was invited to the meeting but declined to attend. 

Sa'ar expressed at the meeting, “We support [the plan] and are working, and will work, toward its success.” However, he cautioned, “Hamas must be disarmed. That includes all its weapons; its terror infrastructure, underground tunnel network and weapons production facilities must all be dismantled. As the plan emphasizes, there must also be a fundamental deradicalization process. The infrastructure that indoctrinates Palestinian children to hate and kill Jews, in educational and religious institutions, should no longer exist.”

This week, Reuters reported that President Trump will announce a plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip worth billions of U.S. dollars. According to the report, which was provided by two senior US officials, he will also detail plans for an international stabilization force for the Strip.