Secret Gaza meetings in Cyprus advance plan to isolate Hamas

The international Board of Peace, convened to outline a post‑war framework for Gaza, is confronting a severe funding shortfall as donor nations and humanitarian agencies delay contributions earmarked for reconstruction and governance initiatives. The board, which includes representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, and several Arab states, had projected a $2.5 billion budget to rebuild infrastructure, restore basic services, and support a transitional administration. As of this week, pledged funds cover only about 45 percent of the estimated needs, prompting the board to seek emergency financing from private foundations and to request accelerated disbursements from existing donors.

Simultaneously, a coalition of human‑rights groups and Palestinian civil‑society organizations has warned that the emerging post‑war plan risks entrenching a form of colonial occupation, citing proposals that would grant extensive security powers to external forces and limit local self‑determination. The groups argue that without clear safeguards for civilian oversight and a timeline for the withdrawal of foreign military presence, the reconstruction effort could solidify control by external actors rather than empower Gaza’s own institutions. The board has responded by stating that all proposals remain subject to further negotiation and that the final framework will incorporate “robust protections for human rights and local governance,” though detailed timelines have yet to be released.