Israel Tells Washington: We will not Pay a Single Dollar to the “Peace Council” for the Reconstruction of Gaza
By Ali Ragab – News Editor
2.4 million Palestinians are living in “disastrous” humanitarian conditions.
Tel Aviv, Israel – Israeli Finance Minister and Cabinet member Ze’ev Elkin announced on Sunday that Tel Aviv had officially informed the US administration that it would not provide any financial contributions to the Peace Council, which is responsible for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. It also declined to fund the peacekeeping forces.
Elkin: There is no reason to fund the reconstruction of Gaza
In remarks to the official radio station Reshet Bet, Elkin reiterated Israel’s refusal to contribute to the costs associated with membership in the council, stating: “We will not provide funds to the Peace Council… There is no reason for us to finance the reconstruction of Gaza, and we have clearly conveyed this position to Washington.”
The two ministers had previously expressed strong reservations about Israel joining the council.
However, the exemption granted to the Israeli treasury from paying the “reconstruction bill” led to their silence following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official announcement of Israel’s accession.
The radio station, quoting a government source, revealed that the decision not to provide funding helped to calm the opposition of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially announced Israel’s membership.
Trump’s plan and financial commitments
The Israeli stance comes as US President Donald Trump seeks to garner international support for his transition plan in Gaza.
The financial and institutional details include membership contributions.
Each member state is expected to contribute approximately $1 billion to fund the project.
The project encompasses reconstruction and an international stabilization force.
Trump announced that $7 billion had been raised from countries including the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan.
Washington also pledged $10 billion to the council, which Trump directly chairs.
Gaza governance structures in the “Trump era”
The “Peace Council,” established last January, is one of four administrative structures designated by Trump to manage the transitional phase in the Gaza Strip.
These structures are the Peace Council (responsible for funding and reconstruction), the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, the Gaza Executive Council, and the International Stabilization Force.
Background to the catastrophic crisis
This Israeli refusal to provide funding comes at a time when the Gaza Strip is facing widespread destruction, with 90% of its infrastructure damaged as a result of the genocidal war that began in October 2013 and lasted two years. This war resulted in the deaths of more than 72,000 Palestinians and injuries to 171,000 others.
While the International Criminal Court has been calling for the prosecution of Netanyahu for war crimes since 2024, some 2.4 million Palestinians are living in what international organizations have described as a “catastrophic” humanitarian situation.
This is occurring under severe restrictions that prevent the entry of medical supplies and basic shelter materials.
