Israel will not contribute to Gaza reconstruction, cabinet minister says

2026-02-22 - 23:32

Israel has informed the United States that it will not provide financial contributions to the Board of Peace's Gaza reconstruction efforts, Security Cabinet Minister Zeev Elkin confirmed Friday in remarks to Israeli media. The declaration marks a clear divergence between Tel Aviv and the international coalition assembled by President Donald Trump to rebuild the war-ravaged enclave. Reasoning Behind Refusal "We did not give money to the Board of Peace," Elkin stated bluntly. "We were attacked and there is no reason for us to finance reconstruction work in Gaza." The minister's comments reflect Israel's position that having been the target of the October 7 attacks that triggered the two-year war, it bears no responsibility for financing Gaza's recovery. The statement comes as the board, established under Trump's initiative, secured over $7 billion in pledges from Gulf nations and other states during its inaugural Washington meeting. Divergence from International Coalition Elkin's announcement highlights Israel's isolation from the multilateral effort to rebuild Gaza, even as it maintains coordination with the United States on security matters. The board's members, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, have committed billions to reconstruction while also serving as mediators in the conflict alongside Egypt and Türkiye. Israel's refusal to participate financially places the burden of rebuilding entirely on the international community and Palestinian authorities. Implications for Reconstruction With Gaza facing unprecedented destruction following Israel's military campaign that killed over 72,000 Palestinians, reconstruction needs are estimated in the tens of billions of dollars. Israel's decision not to contribute, while unsurprising given its insistence that Hamas bears responsibility for the war's devastation, nonetheless creates additional challenges for coordinating the massive rebuilding effort now being organized through the Board of Peace framework. The position may also complicate discussions around governance arrangements and security guarantees in post-conflict Gaza.