Trump Pledges Aid to Gaza Amidst Renewed Israeli Strikes

As Israeli airstrikes continue to target Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 Palestinians in recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a pledge of $5 billion from member states of his newly formed Board of Peace towards reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in the besieged enclave. The announcement comes less than a week before the board’s inaugural meeting, scheduled for February 19 at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.

Escalating Violence in Gaza

The recent surge in violence saw at least 11 Palestinians killed in airstrikes on Sunday, February 15, 2026, according to Palestinian officials (ABC News). These strikes targeted a tent encampment housing displaced families in northern Gaza, residential areas in Khan Younis in the south, and other locations across Gaza. Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that at least six people were killed in a strike on the tent camp in northern Gaza, while five were killed in Khan Younis. Further casualties were reported in Gaza City and Beit Lahia.

The Israeli military claims the strikes were in response to ceasefire violations by Hamas, stating they targeted militants. However, reports indicate the majority of casualties were civilians (ABC News).

Trump’s Board of Peace and Aid Pledge

President Trump announced the $5 billion pledge on his Truth Social account, adding that member states would as well send “thousands of personnel” to “maintain Security and Peace for Gazans” (Mother Jones). The pledge will be formally announced at the Board of Peace’s first meeting.

Indonesia has reportedly offered to deploy up to 8,000 troops to Gaza by June (Mother Jones). The Board of Peace’s charter does not specifically mention Gaza, instead hinting at a mechanism to circumvent accountability to the United Nations (Mother Jones).

Criticism and Concerns

European political figures have criticized Trump’s Board for bypassing the United Nations and its limited impact on halting the conflict (ABC News). Despite these criticisms, European governments continue to support Israel while publicly advocating for international law.

Nickolay Mladenov, the designated “High Representative for Gaza” within the Board, has cautioned that failure to act swiftly could result in a continuation of the war rather than the implementation of the ceasefire’s second phase (Mother Jones).

Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis

Gaza’s health ministry reports approximately 71,700–71,800 Palestinians have been killed and over 170,000 injured since the beginning of the war, representing more than 10 percent of the population (Mother Jones). Roughly 480–520 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began, a figure acknowledged by Israeli military sources.