Overview
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Holy See would not participate, citing “critical issues” and insisting the UN should handle crisis responses.
- The U.S.-led board, chaired by President Trump, was created to oversee Gaza’s governance and reconstruction and could expand to other conflicts.
- Organizers plan an inaugural meeting in Washington on Feb. 19 focused on Gaza reconstruction, with about $5 billion in pledges announced.
- Participation remains uneven as Italy and the European Union attend only as observers and several major Western allies decline full membership.
- Governance and legitimacy questions persist, including reported chair veto and invitation powers, a $1 billion threshold for permanent seats, lack of Palestinian representation, and criticism such as Cardinal Pizzaballa’s “colonialist operation” remark.