Hamas has held its first discussions with the U.S.-led Board for Peace and Reconstruction, as the Trump administration’s postwar Gaza plan faces increasing strain from the U.S.-Iran conflict and persistent Israeli military operations. The meeting, reported by Reuters, underscores the precarious state of international efforts to stabilize the enclave and implement a long-term reconstruction framework.
The Board, formally established in January as a centerpiece of former President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace initiative, comprises international business leaders and officials from numerous countries. Its mandate is to oversee a $7 billion reconstruction program and the deployment of international stabilization forces. However, the body’s activities have been largely suspended in recent weeks, as several Muslim member states expressed outrage over U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and questioned their continued participation. Critics have also highlighted the board’s lack of explicit Palestinian political representation.
According to sources, the confidential talks took place late last week in the region. The discussions aimed to salvage key elements of the U.S. plan, focusing on achieving a sustainable ceasefire and advancing reconstruction. The meeting was described as preliminary, with no immediate breakthrough announced.
During the talks, Hamas officials reportedly demanded the immediate reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Israel closed the vital humanitarian gateway following its airstrikes on Iran. Hamas has warned that if Rafah remains sealed and aid access is not restored, the group may withdraw from existing ceasefire agreements. This demand ties the postwar political process directly to immediate humanitarian relief.
The backdrop to these negotiations is a persistent pattern of violence. Despite a formal truce that ended Israel’s two-year large-scale military campaign in Gaza last October, the Israeli military has continued strikes. Reported attacks on Sunday alone killed at least 12 people, including children. Reuters notes a post-ceasefire death toll exceeding 600, adding to overall casualty figures that Gaza health authorities say have surpassed 72,000.
The conflict originated with Hamas’s cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and saw over 250 taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent air and ground offensive, coupled with a strict blockade on essentials, drew widespread accusations of constituting a genocide against Palestinians.
The Board’s challenge is twofold: securing sufficient international buy-in—major Western powers have largely declined full membership—and navigating the volatile security environment. Russia has indicated it is studying an invitation but has not formally joined. The survival of the reconstruction plan now hinges on de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran, a renewed commitment to the ceasefire by all parties, and the resolution of critical humanitarian access points like the Rafah crossing.
