Trump Says Peace Council Successfully Raised $7 Billion for Gaza

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump said the Peace Council managed to raise 7 billion US dollars to rebuild the Gaza Strip, in the first meeting of his council in Washington D.C., on Thursday.

In a series of announcements at the end of a long and rambling speech to representatives from 47 countries, Trump said the United States would contribute 10 billion US dollars to the Peace Council.

He said the contributing countries had collected 7 billion US dollars as an initial down payment for the reconstruction of Gaza, launching Al Arabiya from Reuters (20/2).

"Contributing countries include Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait," he said.

In addition, President Trump said FIFA would raise 75 million US dollars for football-related projects in Gaza and that the United Nations would contribute 2 billion US dollars for humanitarian aid.

Furthermore, President Trump said Norway would host a Peace Council event, but Norway clarified that they did not join the council.

It is known that President Trump proposed the formation of the council in September when he announced his plan to end Israel's war in Gaza. The Peace Council includes Israeli representatives but does not include Palestinian representatives.

He then clarified that the scope of the council would be expanded beyond Gaza to deal with other conflicts around the world. President Trump's suggestion that the Council could eventually deal with conflicts outside Gaza has raised concerns that it could weaken the UN's role as the main platform for global diplomacy and conflict resolution.

"We will strengthen the UN," said President Trump, trying to calm his critics.