Trumps Gaza Board of Peace Faces Funding Shortfall Amid Uncertainty

US-Led Board Faces Funding Crisis Amid Gaza Reconstruction Plan

The Board of Peace, established in January 2021 to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, is facing a significant financial shortfall. According to reports, the board has reported a gap between its financial commitments and actual disbursements, warning of an urgent liquidity crisis.

Experts tracking international aid to Palestinians attribute the funding shortfall to several factors. The board’s structure, which includes prominent pro-Israel figures, has been criticized for lacking a viable political horizon for a Palestinian state. Additionally, Israel’s ongoing military expansion in Gaza is seen as a deterrent to donors.

The US-led board recently reported that only 17 billion dollars of pledged funds have been disbursed, despite the board’s ambitious $70 billion reconstruction plan. Experts argue that this lack of transparency and accountability has led to skepticism among Arab and European donors.

Historically, the international community has struggled to meet its commitments in the Palestinian context. The Oslo Accord, brokered by the US in 1993, saw only 70 percent of pledged funds fulfilled. Similarly, after the 2014 war on Gaza, only 46 percent of the $2.7 billion pledged at a Cairo conference was disbursed.

The Board of Peace’s funding crisis is deeply intertwined with its strict political and security conditions. The board’s charter includes a clause allowing countries to bypass the standard three-year term in exchange for a $1 billion contribution. Experts describe this “pay-for-influence” model as an unethical practice that prioritizes US interests over Palestinian aspirations.

The situation has sparked concerns among donors, who are hesitant to engage with the board due to its perceived lack of transparency and accountability. The funding crisis threatens to derail the board’s ambitious reconstruction plan for Gaza, highlighting the need for greater international cooperation and accountability in humanitarian efforts.

Source: Al Jazeera