Bucharest: Romania’s President Nicusor Dan and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban have publicly endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiative for the Gaza Strip during their speeches at the first-ever Board of Peace meeting. This meeting marks a significant diplomatic engagement with the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

According to Anadolu Agency, President Dan expressed his gratitude towards President Trump for his leadership and described the peace proposal as both ‘comprehensive and stable.’ He also delineated Romania’s potential contributions, particularly in the realms of humanitarian aid and institutional support. Dan emphasized Romania’s commitment to increasing the number of medical evacuation flights to treat up to 4,000 children and their family members in Romanian hospitals. Furthermore, he highlighted Romania’s expertise in emergency systems, offering to aid in rebuilding Gaza’s emergency response infrastructure and public institutions. He also proposed extending scholarships for Palestinian students and assisting in the refurbishment of schools in Gaza.

Prime Minister Orban commended Trump’s global diplomatic efforts, positioning Hungary’s involvement as both principled and strategic. He underscored Hungary’s unique representation among EU founding members at the meeting, linking the stability of the Middle East directly to Europe’s security. Orban criticized existing international organizations for their inadequacies in preserving global peace, advocating for new initiatives to address conflicts worldwide.

The context of these diplomatic efforts is framed by the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which began on October 8, 2023. The conflict has resulted in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths and more than 171,000 injuries, primarily affecting women and children, and has caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. Despite a ceasefire, the Israeli military has continued its operations, leading to additional casualties and injuries, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.