Cyprus outlined a four-point plan for humanitarian relief, recovery and security in Gaza at the inaugural Peace Council session in Washington, where US President Donald Trump pledged support for the United Nations and financial backing for reconstruction efforts.
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, representing Cyprus at the event, submitted a document proposing actionable ideas for supporting Gaza, including humanitarian aid via the Amalthea plan, early recovery and rebuilding of critical infrastructure, security training in cooperation with European Union missions, and operational support for an International Stabilisation Force.
The Cypriot foreign ministry said a separate joint paper was also filed with United Nations partners such as UNOPS on sustainable early recovery, and that Cyprus offered six options for contributing to the stabilisation force.
Kombos held a series of meetings with counterparts from participating countries, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The ministry said Kombos emphasised the importance of continuing coordinated international efforts to support stability and security in the region and highlighted Cyprus’s potential role because of its geographic proximity and initiatives developed since the Gaza crisis began.
A total of 14 European Union member states participated in the opening session, and the European Commission was represented by Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica.
At the session, Trump said the board could help strengthen the United Nations and support global peace efforts, responding to criticism that the council could undermine the international organisation. According to reports, Trump said that the council “will oversee in some way the United Nations and ensure that it functions properly” and that the United States would support the UN financially so it remains “viable”.
The council event also saw commitments for funds to assist Gaza. At the first meeting of the US-initiated Board of Peace, Trump said member countries had pledged more than $5 billion (€4.8bn) to help rebuild war-torn Gaza, and nine nations had offered troops for an international stabilisation force.
On ground developments related to Gaza’s governance, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) said on social media platform X that recruitment for a Gaza police force was “open” to qualified men and women ahead of the council meeting, ahead of a stabilisation effort.
US Major General Jasper Jeffers, commander of the International Stabilisation Force for Gaza, told the council that initial plans call for training around 12,000 police officers, with training to start in Egypt.
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