In a surprising move, seven more countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, have agreed to join US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” according to a joint statement. The group, which also includes Israel, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Qatar, aims to help end the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and oversee the reconstruction efforts.
However, the proposed charter of the board does not mention the Palestinian territories, leading to concerns that it may be designed to supplant the functions of the United Nations. Slovenia’s Prime Minister, Robert Golob, has already declined the invitation, stating that the body “dangerously interferes with the broader international order.”
The Vatican has also received an invitation, but Pope Leo is taking time to consider whether to participate. Meanwhile, Israel has pushed back on Trump’s picks for the executive board, saying the composition “was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy.”
The board’s charter states that it will enter into force once three states formally agree to be bound by it, with member states given renewable three-year terms and permanent seats available to those contributing $1 billion (£740 million). The White House has already named seven members of the founding Executive Board, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Despite the growing international support, the board faces significant challenges. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is fragile, with more than 460 Palestinian deaths in Israeli strikes since it came into force. Hamas has also refused to give up its weapons without the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and Israel has not committed to fully withdrawing from Gaza.
As the board moves into the second phase of the peace plan, which includes reconstruction and demilitarization, it remains to be seen whether it can overcome the pitfalls and deliver a lasting peace in the region.
