Discussions on Gaza's future must begin with a total halt to Israeli "aggression", Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said after U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace met for the first time. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted however that Hamas must disarm before any reconstruction begins. "We agreed with our ally the U.S. that there will be no reconstruction of Gaza before the demilitarisation of Gaza," Mr. Netanyahu said. Also Read | ​A piece of board: On India and Donald Trump’s Board of PeaceThe Israeli leader did not attend the Washington meeting but was represented by his foreign minister Gideon Saar. Mr. Trump said several countries, mostly in the Gulf, had pledged more than seven billion dollars to rebuild the territory.

Source: The Hindu February 20, 2026 17:15 UTC