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Rabat — Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita participated in the first meeting of the Board of Peace on Gaza on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump chaired the meeting, with 40 countries and the UN reportedly confirming their attendance in the inaugural gathering.
During the meeting, Trump said that board members committed $7 billion toward the relief package for Gaza’s reconstruction, citing Morocco among the countries that contributed to this package.
Other countries that contributed to the package include Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, and the UAE.
The number is higher than the $5 billion Trump previously committed.
Morocco is one of the Board’s founding members. In January, Morocco announced that King Mohammed VI had accepted Trump’s invitation to join the newly formed peace-making board.
Morocco was also among the first signatories of the Trump-led initiative. Each member country of the board had to pay a $1 billion fee for permanent membership.
The US-led board asserts that it seeks pledges to resolve international conflicts.
In his address, Trump also pledged a $10 billion contribution from the US to the board.
He also said members committed troops and police. He particularly thanked Indonesia for providing 1,000 troops to the international stabilization force referred to as ISF.
Albania, Kosovo, and Kazakhstan have also committed troops and police to Gaza, he said.
Earlier this week, reports alleged Morocco will also join the stabilization force.
For Trump, the board is “one of the most important things” he thinks he will be involved in during his presidency.
“We’ve been involved a lot, and really, I’ve been involved in a lot with the people up here. We work together with ending wars with their country,” the US president said.
Trump alleges ‘little flames’ continue in Gaza
In his remarks during the meeting, Trump alleged that the genocidal war in Gaza is over, commending the ceasefire deal that came into effect in October. His claims come as Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue to violate the ceasefire, sporadically killing Palestinians who continue to suffer under dire conditions in the enclave.
Trump belittled these continuous tensions and the IOF’s illegal actions as “little flames,” adding that he believes Hamas will abandon weapons.
“If they don’t, it’ll be, you know, they’ll harshly be met,” Trump said, while acknowledging that the situation in Gaza is “very complex.”
He also pledged his administration’s efforts to ensure a “brighter future” for Gaza as well as the entire Middle East and the world.
Trump also announced FIFA is raising $75 million for projects in Gaza that will reportedly all be related to football.
“I think that the Board of Peace, because it’s mostly leaders and unbelievably respected people, but mostly leaders of Middle Eastern countries, countries from all over the world, and they’ve been very generous with money also,” Trump added.
The Board of Peace has come under scrutiny since its conception, with observers voicing concerns over potential bias among the board’s members, singling out the participation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as particularly contentious.
Critics further point out the absence of direct Palestinian representation over their own territory, worrying that decided outcomes risk not being in their favor.
Prospects with Iran
During the meeting, the president also spoke of US ce ties with Iran, recognizing efforts by his in-law son Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff over talks with Tehran.
“Iran is a hotspot right now…. They’re meeting, and they have a good relationship with the representatives of Iran, and, you know, good talks are being had,” Trump said.
His words come as BBC Verify recently confirmed that the USS Abraham Lincoln was spotted near Iran, sparking global alarm as the US continues to put pressure on Tehran since their crackdown on local protestors.
During his address, Trump also commended America’s alleged ending of “eight wars.”
“We have a first year like probably no other ever in our country because we settled eight wars, and I think a ninth is coming. It’s turned out to be a tougher one,” he said.
