U.N. Security Council Moves Gaza Ceasefire Meeting Up Days Before Trump’s Board of Peace Summit

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

The U.N. Security Council scheduled a high-level meeting Wednesday on the Gaza ceasefire deal and Israel’s efforts to expand control in the West Bank, ahead of world leaders convening in Washington for the inaugural gathering of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.

Originally set for Thursday, the U.N. session in New York was moved up after Trump announced his board’s meeting for that date, complicating diplomatic travel plans.

The arrangement highlights potential conflicts between the United Nations’ most powerful body and Trump’s new initiative, which has raised concerns in some countries about its ambitions to broker global conflicts and potentially rival the Security Council.

Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour stated his expectations from the international community: “We expect from the international community to stop Israel and end their illegal effort against annexation, whether in Washington or in New York.”

Foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Indonesia, among others, are expected to attend the monthly Mideast meeting of the 15-member council following requests from Arab and Islamic nations for a discussion on Gaza and Israel’s West Bank settlement project.

The Board of Peace, initially envisioned as a small group overseeing Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, has drawn skepticism from major U.S. allies like France and Germany, who have not yet joined despite over 20 countries accepting invitations.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz dismissed concerns about the board’s composition, stating that relevant nations including Qatar and Egypt—engaged with Hamas—have accepted the invitation: “All of those countries are on the Board of Peace, singing the same tune as the United States.”

The Security Council will convene a day after nearly all 15 members (excluding the U.S.) and dozens of diplomats joined Palestinian ambassador Mansour in reading a statement from 80 countries and organizations condemning Israel’s latest actions in the West Bank. The statement demanded an immediate reversal and underscored “strong opposition to any form of annexation.”

Israel has launched a contentious land regulation process in the occupied West Bank, which it claims will establish “de facto sovereignty” and block Palestinian statehood. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen described the move as such.

Outraged Palestinians, Arab nations, and human rights groups have labeled the actions an illegal annexation of territory home to roughly 3.4 million Palestinians seeking a future state.

The U.N. meeting will also address the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal that took effect October 10 after over two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The U.K., currently holding council presidency, announced briefings by U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo and civil society representatives for the first time since the Oct. 7 attacks.

While aspects of the ceasefire have advanced—including Hamas releasing hostages and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza—U.N. officials note that aid levels remain insufficient. A new technocratic committee has been appointed to manage daily affairs in Gaza.

Key challenges ahead include deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas, and rebuilding Gaza. Trump recently stated that Board of Peace members have pledged $5 billion for reconstruction and will commit thousands of personnel for stabilization and police forces.

Indonesia’s military indicated up to 8,000 troops could be ready by the end of June for a potential deployment to Gaza as part of a humanitarian mission.