A new initiative aimed at rebuilding Gaza is taking shape, with the formation of a “Global Peace Council” comprised of ten key nations. According to Bishara Bahbah, head of ‘Americans for Global Peace,’ the council will oversee reconstruction efforts in the region, with each member nation contributing $1 billion towards the cause.
Bahbah revealed that the ten core countries involved are the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan. He indicated that invitations have been extended to other nations to join the council, predicated on their commitment to the $1 billion financial contribution. This initial investment is intended to kickstart the massive reconstruction process, which is estimated to cost between $74 and $112 billion.
Details emerging from Western media outlets suggest that former U.S. President Donald Trump spearheaded the initiative, inviting approximately 60 countries to participate in the “Peace Council” for Gaza. A prerequisite for membership exceeding three years was a $1 billion upfront payment. Bahbah characterized this amount as relatively modest for some nations, aligning with Trump’s perceived business-oriented approach to diplomacy.
Bahbah anticipates an official announcement regarding the council’s membership in the near future, potentially during upcoming international gatherings. He also stated that a Gaza management committee will commence its operations from Cairo before ultimately relocating to the Gaza Strip. This marks what he describes as a ‘radical’ phase led by the United States.
Washington is now firmly in control of the next phase, Bahbah emphasized, encompassing reconstruction, border crossings, the formation of a Gaza management committee, and the deployment of ‘stabilization forces’ under American guarantee, given Israel’s diminished capacity to impose its conditions.
Addressing concerns about the council’s nature, Bahbah asserted that any framework is preferable to the continuation of the Israeli occupation. He believes the U.S. administration is poised to lead the reconstruction of Gaza and link it to a broader political process. Further announcements are expected soon.
