Hamas Urges Board of Peace to Press Israel to Halt Violations in Gaza
Hamas has said that the newly formed Board of Peace (BoP) established by United States President Donald Trump must pressure Israel to halt ceasefire violations in Gaza. Hamas stated that genocide in Gaza is still ongoing.
"We urge council members to take serious action to compel the Israeli occupation to stop its violations in Gaza, as the genocidal war against the Gaza Strip is still ongoing," Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told AFP ahead of the body's inaugural meeting this week in Washington, as reported by AFP on Wednesday (18/2/2026).
The Board of Peace's inaugural meeting will be held this weekend in Washington DC. The BoP, chaired by Trump, was originally designed to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and the reconstruction of the territory following the war between Hamas and Israel.
However, its objectives have since shifted towards resolving various international conflicts, sparking concerns that the US president seeks to create a rival to the United Nations.
Qassem also called on the council to work in support of the newly formed Palestinian technocrat committee intended to oversee day-to-day governance of post-war Gaza "so that relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza can commence".
Since Trump launched the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, at least 19 countries have signed its founding charter.
Member states have been asked to pay $1 billion for permanent membership, and the invitation extended to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country invaded Ukraine in 2022, has drawn criticism.
"We urge council members to take serious action to compel the Israeli occupation to stop its violations in Gaza, as the genocidal war against the Gaza Strip is still ongoing," Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told AFP ahead of the body's inaugural meeting this week in Washington, as reported by AFP on Wednesday (18/2/2026).
The Board of Peace's inaugural meeting will be held this weekend in Washington DC. The BoP, chaired by Trump, was originally designed to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and the reconstruction of the territory following the war between Hamas and Israel.
However, its objectives have since shifted towards resolving various international conflicts, sparking concerns that the US president seeks to create a rival to the United Nations.
Qassem also called on the council to work in support of the newly formed Palestinian technocrat committee intended to oversee day-to-day governance of post-war Gaza "so that relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza can commence".
Since Trump launched the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, at least 19 countries have signed its founding charter.
Member states have been asked to pay $1 billion for permanent membership, and the invitation extended to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country invaded Ukraine in 2022, has drawn criticism.