International press reports have revealed a state of stagnation gripping the so-called 'Peace Council' headed by US President Donald Trump, as plans for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip face major financial and political obstacles. Sources indicated that countries that previously pledged financial support are now showing clear reluctance to fulfill their commitments more than seven months after the ceasefire agreement.
Leaked financial data points to a huge gap between promises and reality; out of $7 billion pledged by nine countries, only meager amounts, not exceeding $1.75 for every $100 promised, have actually arrived. The United Arab Emirates and Morocco are the only two entities that have transferred actual funds to support the Council's operational activities, while the rest of the pledges remain ink on paper.
In a memo submitted to the UN Security Council, the Peace Council considered that the main obstacle to implementing its vision is Hamas's refusal to surrender its weapons and relinquish administrative control over the Strip. However, informed sources confirm that the lack of funding represents the real and existential threat to reconstruction efforts, putting the credibility of the American initiative at stake before the international community.
This financial crisis comes at a time when the United Nations estimates that the cost of rebuilding what the war destroyed in Gaza exceeds $70 billion, a process that could take decades. Despite Trump's personal pledge to provide $10 billion in US funding, these funds have not yet been disbursed and have not been officially requested by Council officials to date.
On the internal administration front, the Council faces sharp criticism due to the high salaries received by senior officials and Palestinian technocrats chosen to manage the sector. These officials are currently residing in Egypt awaiting entry permits to Gaza, where they receive monthly salaries ranging between $16,000 and $17,000, while the salary of the High Representative Nickolay Mladenov is about $400,000 annually.
Field sources reported that the National Committee for Gaza Management, affiliated with Mladenov, has not succeeded in bringing about any tangible change in the lives of the residents within the afflicted Strip. The sources confirmed that not a single bottle of water has entered Gaza under the banner of this committee since the beginning of this year, reflecting the state of functional paralysis suffered by the institutions stemming from Trump's plan.
In Jerusalem, Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov admitted that the world has failed the Palestinians in Gaza, indicating that the doors to the future remain tightly closed. Mladenov urged donor countries to disburse the committed funds without delay, considering that delay transforms the framework from tangible results into mere paper plans that neither feed nor enrich.
On the other hand, diplomats believe that regional escalation and the conflict with Iran have provided political cover for some countries to delay paying their financial shares into the Gaza reconstruction fund. It seems that those with financial influence now have a strong excuse to freeze their contributions, awaiting the outcome of the complex political and security situations in the Middle East in general.
Despite prominent Peace Council officials denying the existence of urgent funding challenges, the reality on the ground indicates the absence of any practical plans for reconstruction or debris removal. Israeli occupation forces still control more than half of the Strip's area and impose strict restrictions on the entry of vital shipments of food, medicine, and basic necessities.
Hundreds of thousands of survivors live in temporary camps lacking the most basic necessities for a dignified life, where hunger is widespread and health crises are exacerbated by the destruction of infrastructure and hospitals. In light of this bitter reality, Trump's vision of transforming Gaza into a tourist and commercial hub with 'smart cities' seems far removed from the humanitarian catastrophe that residents experience daily.
Reports indicate that major contracting companies have submitted bids to remove rubble and build residential complexes, but they have not received any official contracts or assignments to begin work. This confusion reflects the lack of coordination between major political promises and executive capacity on the ground, amid ongoing military operations and strict security restrictions imposed by the occupation.
Observers warn that the 'worst-case scenario' for the Peace Council is a sudden agreement by Palestinian factions to disarm, as the Council would find itself unable to provide any actual support. They emphasize that the Council is not logistically or financially prepared to deal with the scale of the massive destruction, which could lead to a complete collapse of popular and international expectations regarding the American role.
Regarding the security aspect, the international force stipulated by the ceasefire agreement is still completely absent from the scene, and there are no signs of its formation in the foreseeable future. This security vacuum contributes to strengthening the occupation forces' control over vital passages, hindering any serious attempt to bring in humanitarian aid or begin restoring vital facilities.
The future of more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip remains suspended between unfulfilled international promises and a ground reality characterized by widespread destruction and continuous displacement. With increasing international reports describing what happened in Gaza as genocide, pressure is mounting on the 'Peace Council' to prove its seriousness beyond media statements and ambitious plans that lack funding and implementation.
The door to Gaza's future remains closed; this is not what the Palestinians were promised, and not what they deserve.
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Trump's Gaza Reconstruction Plan Stalls: Hesitant Donors and Empty Coffers Threaten 'Peace Council'