Overview
- Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Holy See will not join the board, citing its unique status and insisting that the UN should manage international crises.
- The board holds its inaugural meeting in Washington on Feb. 19, where the White House says more than US$5 billion in Gaza reconstruction and humanitarian pledges and commitments of thousands of personnel to a stabilisation force will be highlighted.
- Participation remains uneven, with regional players such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and Israel engaged, while Italy and the European Union attend only as observers and many major Western allies have declined to join.
- Governance and legitimacy concerns persist, including a charter that grants the U.S. president sweeping powers, reported provisions tying permanent seats to US$1 billion contributions, and criticism over the absence of formal Palestinian representation.
- Operational questions are unresolved on demilitarizing Hamas, who will govern and police Gaza, and how an international force would function, though Indonesia has signaled plans to contribute thousands of personnel.