Trump's Board of Peace announces $2.45 billion Gaza recovery plan

US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace has announced a $2.45 billion (£1.85 billion) Gaza recovery plan during a meeting at the UN General Assembly. The funding will be allocated across 66 programs over six months, focusing on housing, diesel generation, and waste removal, among other needs. However, the board acknowledged that substantial donations are still required, with $18 billion pledged but only $280 million received so far. The board estimates that full recovery and reconstruction will necessitate approximately $71 billion over the next decade. No specific date for the start of reconstruction in Gaza has been established, where a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been in place for nearly a year but progress on Trump's peace plan has stalled. A key issue remains the disarmament of Hamas, which has agreed to relinquish its weapons in exchange for a phased Israeli troop withdrawal from 60% of Gaza currently occupied, but Israel insists on full disarmament before any withdrawal occurs. Violence continues in Gaza, with near-daily Israeli strikes, and the living conditions for the 2.1 million residents remain poor. Jared Kushner, a member of the Gaza Executive Board and Trump's son-in-law, acknowledged that the Gaza Recovery Programme is facing various delays. He emphasized the board's commitment to the recovery efforts. US envoy Steve Witkoff stated that 'real progress' has been made over the past year, citing the return of hostages and ongoing humanitarian efforts. The plan also faces challenges related to security for operators in Gaza, governance issues, and the need for consensus between Israeli and Palestinian officials. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that several countries have pledged financial assistance and that the board is seeking additional support. Michael Eisenberg, an Israeli-American Board of Peace member, outlined the necessary steps for recovery, including the removal of unexploded ordnance and destruction of tunnels. In August, Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, criticized ongoing Israeli air strikes and warned of the potential collapse of the ceasefire. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 1,408 Palestinians, including over 300 children, have died in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began. The Israeli military reports five of its soldiers have died in combat since the ceasefire. Reconstruction has not yet commenced in Gaza, where an estimated 80% of structures have been damaged or destroyed, leaving over 60 million tonnes of rubble. Approximately 1.9 million people, or about 90% of Gaza's population, have been displaced, with 1.2 million currently living in tents or makeshift shelters, facing limited access to clean water and sanitation services, according to the UN. The Board of Peace was established as part of Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan, introduced alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September of the previous year. Hamas agreed to return all remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and to transfer governance of Gaza to Palestinian technocrats. In July, Hamas accepted a disarmament plan contingent on Israel ceasing aggression and withdrawing its forces, but Netanyahu later rejected this plan, stating military presence would continue until Hamas is fully disarmed. Initially, the Board of Peace was envisioned as an international organization aimed at achieving peace in Gaza but has since expanded to address conflicts globally. The war began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Israel's military response has led to over 73,920 fatalities in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry.