Trump created the group to oversee his ceasefire plan in Gaza, and said member states have pledged $7 billion for Gaza reconstruction. He also said the U.S. will contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace.

At the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington, President Donald Trump spoke of billions of dollars pledged to rebuild the Gaza Strip and a “new and harmonious” Middle East rising from the ashes of war.

Many experts and some U.S. allies have indicated skepticism at the board's approach over concerns it may sideline the U.N.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said Wednesday he had agreed to join U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, after his office earlier criticized makeup of the board.

Members of the United Nations Security Council called Wednesday for the Gaza ceasefire deal to become permanent and blasted Israeli efforts to expand control in the West Bank as a threat to prospects of a two-state solution,

Within days of the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last year, all sides agreed to a cease-fire. This time could be different.

JERUSALEM — U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is set to meet for the first time on Thursday in Washington, an early test of whether one of his marquee foreign policy initiatives can gain broad support and advance the shaky ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip .