Washington to Host Inaugural Meeting of 'Peace Council' for Gaza Chaired by Trump

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán revealed new diplomatic details concerning the future of the Gaza Strip, announcing that he had received an official invitation to participate in the inaugural meeting of what is known as the 'Peace Council'. This council is scheduled to commence its work in the American capital, Washington, in about two weeks, in a step aimed at laying the groundwork for a comprehensive reconstruction process.

Orbán clarified, during an election event in the Hungarian city of Szombathely, that the meeting would be chaired by US President Donald Trump and attended by international leaders. The Hungarian leader confirmed that he would personally attend the session to meet Trump, noting that the invitation arrived in Budapest last Friday, reflecting the acceleration of American diplomatic steps in this matter.

Reports from Washington indicate that the United States Institute of Peace will host this summit on February 19th. The primary focus of the attendees will be on activating the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, which aims to end the ongoing conflict and transition to a phase of permanent stability.

This summit represents an international platform for mobilizing a massive funding campaign, as the US administration seeks to raise billions of dollars from international donors. These funds are intended to initiate the reconstruction of infrastructure and residential areas that suffered widespread destruction during recent military operations in the Strip.

The list of founding members of the council includes a group of influential regional and international powers, among them the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar. Major countries such as Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia also participate in this body, giving the council significant political and economic weight on the international stage.

According to informed sources, the council's structure allows some countries to obtain permanent membership in exchange for providing major financial contributions to support the reconstruction fund. Some of these proposed contributions have reached approximately one billion dollars, reflecting the seriousness of the participating parties in achieving tangible results on the ground in Gaza.

This diplomatic movement coincides with an anticipated visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on February 18th, one day before the council meeting. Gaza and regional negotiations are expected to top the agenda of bilateral discussions between Trump and Netanyahu in Washington.

The 'Peace Council' derives its international legitimacy from United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 of 2025, which granted it an explicit mandate to oversee the stability of the Strip. The body operates according to a comprehensive 20-point American vision, aimed at ensuring sustainable security and providing a suitable environment for economic growth in the region.

The charter of this international body was officially signed during the Davos Economic Forum last January, in the presence of a constellation of international leaders and officials. Although the initial goal of the council was limited to the Palestinian issue, there are indications of the possibility of expanding its tasks to include other international conflicts in the future.

These moves raise questions about the nature of the future relationship between the 'Peace Council' and the United Nations, amid concerns about the emergence of a parallel entity to the international organization. However, Washington affirms that the council works in coordination with international legitimacy to ensure rapid implementation and effective results in conflict areas.

In a related context, the region is witnessing parallel moves to de-escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran, with diplomatic sources reporting direct meetings in the Sultanate of Oman. These meetings brought together Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi with close advisors to President Trump, to discuss ways to avoid direct military confrontation.

The sources indicated that President Trump is currently inclined towards adopting peaceful solutions to the conflict with Iran, while maintaining a 'message of strength' that guarantees American interests. This approach comes within a broader strategy aimed at resolving crises in the Middle East to focus on development and reconstruction issues in Gaza and elsewhere.

On the ground, Israeli forces continue their operations in various areas of the West Bank, with incursions recorded in Wadi al-Far'a and Bethlehem. These developments come at a time when the Palestinian street awaits the results of political moves in Washington and their impact on the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

The main bet in the upcoming Washington meeting remains on the ability of international parties to translate financial commitments into real projects. Observers believe that the success of the 'Peace Council' in its first test in Gaza will determine the effectiveness of this new model in managing major international crises during the current US administration's era.

I received an official invitation; in two weeks, we will meet again in Washington, because the Peace Council will hold its inaugural meeting under the patronage of President Trump.