US President Donald Trump (C) gestures as he arrives for the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC. AFP
In a statement released following the session, the movement said that “any political path or arrangements discussed regarding the Gaza Strip and the future of our Palestinian people must be based on a complete halt of the aggression, lifting the siege, and guaranteeing the legitimate national rights of our people, most importantly their right to freedom and self-determination.”
The group said the timing of the meeting, which took place amid ongoing hostilities, placed a responsibility on international actors to translate diplomatic discussions into concrete measures. It added that the convening of the session “obligates the international community and the parties participating in the Board to take practical steps that compel the occupation to halt its aggression, open the crossings, allow the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid, and immediately start the reconstruction.”
The statement also called on mediators involved in negotiations to ensure the implementation of previously agreed arrangements and to prevent what it described as obstruction of humanitarian and political commitments. “Hamas also calls on international parties and mediators to assume their responsibilities in ensuring the implementation of what has been agreed upon, preventing the occupation from obstructing the humanitarian and political entitlements, and working seriously to establish a permanent ceasefire,” it said.
The movement further argued that efforts to stabilise the enclave would not succeed without addressing underlying political conditions. It said that “any genuine international effort to achieve stability in Gaza must be based on addressing the root causes of the problem, namely the occupation, ending its aggressive policies, and enabling our Palestinian people to gain their full and complete rights.”
Despite the ceasefire in place Israel has continued its near daily attacks on the Strip. Over the past 24 hours 2 people were killed while 4 others were wounded. That brings the total number of Palestinians killed after the ceasefire came into effect to 611, while Israeli attacks wounded another 1,630 Palestinian civilians. Overall, the Israeli war on Gaza has killed 72,069 and wounded another 171,728 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Kicking off the meeting on Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that nine board members had pledged $7 billion for Gaza’s reconstruction and committed thousands of personnel to an International Stabilization Force tasked with maintaining security and stability in the strip.
The head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) Ali Shaath also pledged to restore security and basic services under a new administrative framework during the event.
The Board's High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov also announced the launch of recruitment for a transitional Palestinian police force, reporting that 2,000 applicants had registered within hours. The force is expected to be trained in Egypt with broad support.
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