Israel Refuses to Contribute Funds to the Board of Peace, Here's How Other Countries Are Contributing
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Israeli government has affirmed that it will not allocate funds to finance the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip through the Board of Peace, an initiative proposed by US President Donald Trump.
This stance comes amid growing international diplomacy to rebuild the region devastated by war, but it is also marked by political tensions within Israel.
Ze’ev Elkin, who serves as the second minister in the Ministry of Finance and a member of the Israeli Security Cabinet, openly expressed this rejection in an interview with Israel’s public radio station, Kan Reshet Bet, as quoted by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), Thursday (February 26, 2026).
“We will not fund the Board of Peace, there is no reason for it,” said Elkin.
Elkin emphasized that Israel views itself as the party that was attacked in the recent conflict. “We were attacked,” he said, referring to the cross-border attacks launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.
He then concluded his statement with a firm sentence. “There is no reason for us to pay for the reconstruction.”
Israel Can Still Join Without Paying
Even though it refuses to contribute funds, Israel is still allowed to join the Trump-established Board of Peace. Citing a report from Kan News, the Trump administration has granted the Jewish state permission to become a member without the obligation to contribute to the reconstruction fund or the operating costs of the international organization.
The same report also quoted an unnamed source from the Israeli government. The source stated that the exemption from payment obligations helps alleviate domestic political pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu had previously faced criticism for agreeing to Israel’s participation in the Board of Peace alongside countries considered hostile, such as Qatar and Turkey.
Meanwhile, Trump announced that the nine countries that have joined the Board of Peace have raised more than $7 billion for an aid package for Gaza.
“And to conclude that, today, and I am pleased to announce that Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait have all contributed more than $7 billion to that aid package,” said Trump.
In addition to the contributions from these countries, Trump said the UN would contribute $2 billion for humanitarian aid. The world football governing body, FIFA, is also said to be raising $75 million for projects related to football in the Gaza Strip.
What about Indonesia?
Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono had previously stated that Indonesia has not provided any funds to the Board of Peace. He said that Indonesia can become a member of the council without having to make financial contributions.
He revealed that the Board of Peace does offer prospective members to pay a contribution fee of $1 billion. However, he added that this fee is not a mandatory requirement to become a member of the Board of Peace.
“From the beginning, I said that this is not a membership fee. It is not a requirement for membership. We are now members (of the Board of Peace), so it is okay if we do not pay,” he said.
“Each member of the Board of Peace has a different way of contributing to Gaza. If other countries choose to donate funds, Indonesia will contribute by deploying troops as part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), which is a multinational military operation aimed at stabilizing the civilian environment in Gaza,” he explained.
Furthermore, Sugiono emphasized that Indonesia will not be involved in disarmament or military operations, but will focus on maintaining civilian stability and supporting humanitarian efforts.
“So, the contribution is either in the form of money or troops,” he concluded.