Washington : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa participated in the first meeting of the Board of Peace, held in Washington, DC, at the invitation of His Excellency Donald Trump, President of the United States of America. A number of heads of state and senior officials, as well as representatives of countries and international organisations, also attended.
HE President Trump opened the meeting by thanking the leaders for their participation. His Excellency said the situation in Gaza is complex and that achieving peace requires genuine collective efforts and strong political will. HE the US President emphasised that nothing is more important than peace and that the cost of war far exceeds the cost of stability.
HE President Trump said the Board of Peace provides an important platform for dialogue and joint action to support the peace process. His Excellency announced a financial support package for Gaza, along with contributions from several countries towards relief and reconstruction efforts, and reiterated the United States’ commitment to working with international partners to promote security and stability in the region.
His Majesty the King expressed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s pride in taking part in the first meeting of the Board of Peace as a founding member. His Majesty commended HE President Trump’s efforts in presenting the Gaza Peace Plan and in establishing the Board as a vital platform for dialogue, action and delivery.
His Majesty the King said the Board offers a valuable opportunity to bring international partners together under a shared vision for a better future for the region. His Majesty expressed hope that countries and organisations would actively engage in the efforts of reconstruction in Gaza and in providing hope for its people and lay the foundations for lasting peace in the Middle East.
HM the King emphasised Bahrain’s firm commitment to peaceful solutions to conflicts and to strengthening relations between countries, religions, and peoples on the basis of dialogue, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. His Majesty said the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace marks an extraordinary and pivotal chance to envision a new future for Gaza – one that emerges from the ruins of conflict to build a landscape of security, aspiration, hope, and opportunity for its people.
HM the King added that these efforts would help establish a comprehensive framework for genuine peace in the region, meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish an independent and sovereign state, while ensuring safe coexistence alongside Israel and other countries in the region, in support of peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East.
HM the King reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting peace and security in the region, working to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to meet the aspirations of all peoples in the region, and contributing to the reconstruction of Gaza to secure a better future for its people.
The complete text of His Majesty’s speech at the meeting reads as follows:
President Trump, distinguished members of the Board of Peace,
It is an honor to participate in this inaugural meeting of the Board, convened by President Donald Trump. I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt congratulations on this worthy and timely initiative. The meeting comes during the Holy Month of Ramadan, where we will pray to Almighty God that our endeavours will bring peace, security, and prosperity to the world.
As a founding member of the Board of Peace, the Kingdom of Bahrain recognizes and endorses the tremendous potential of this body, the extraordinary drive of its Chairman, and his sincere efforts to unify nations in our common objective of fostering an enduring peace for the Middle East. We greatly appreciate President Trump’s initiative in presenting the Gaza Peace Plan and establishing this Board as a vital platform for dialogue, action and delivery.
As we embark on this historic journey together, we urge all peace-loving nations, organizations, and groups to actively engage in the successful implementation of the second phase of the Gaza Peace Plan. This includes ensuring a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, facilitating its reconstruction, and providing hope and new opportunities for the people of Palestine and Israel.
This inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace marks an extraordinary and pivotal chance to envision a new future for Gaza – one that emerges from the ruins of conflict to building a landscape of security, aspiration, hope, and opportunity for its people.
In reaffirming our commitment to this vision, the Kingdom of Bahrain has contributed the funds towards the operations and administration of the Board of Peace and, today, we announce our readiness to provide the necessary infrastructure and skills to establish an effective Government Digital Services platform for Gaza.
Our decision to join the Abraham Accords and enter into the CSIPA Agreement with the United States reflects our commitment to advancing peace and stability in the Middle East. The United States’ historic and ongoing presence in our region has served as a positive force for stability, and we remain dedicated to strengthening our partnership.
We look forward, with optimism, to working with the Board of Peace and all of our international partners, who share our ambition for a brighter future for all.
